muscle 1 of 2

noun

ˈmə-səl How to pronounce muscle (audio)
Definition of musclenext
1
as in power
muscular strength I'm going to need someone with real muscle to help me move all this furniture

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in strength
the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task at the time the military lacked the muscle to fight two wars at once

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

muscle

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to force
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure he was muscled out of command by his opponents at military headquarters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to push
to force one's way muscling straight through the packed crowd of people waiting to board the ship

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of muscle
Noun
As long hours spent in the same position can contribute to poor posture, stiffness and other physical issues, experts say regular movement and stretching can help prevent joint pain and muscle weakness. — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Lovers of American automotive muscle would no doubt also nominate that quirky 1976 comedy The Gumball Rally, simply for its action hero, a thundering Shelby Cobra 427. — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
Which muscles the farmer’s walk targets The move works nearly the entire body, but leg muscles, the core and shoulder muscles carry most of the load. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026 Manchester City need no further convincing and are pushing hard to muscle their way to the front of the queue for a player whose valuation is believed to be in the region of €100million (£85m; $114m). — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for muscle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muscle
  1. power
  2. strength
  3. force
  4. push
  5. beef
  6. energy
  7. coerce
  8. squeeze
Noun
  • The park still doesn’t have power, internet or phone lines after Lala swept by last week, and many of its employees are still recovering from the storm.
    — Tyler Ory, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The events have all had a Trumpian flair, featuring appearances from his friends and the aim of showcasing spectacle, Americana and power.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of power
Noun
  • Highlighting the strength of the two countries’ ties, Russian state media has shown images of North Korean troops in training inside Russia over the past year, and Kim Jong Un opened a memorial to North Korea’s Ukraine dead in April.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Communities still recovering from last weekend’s hurricane in Hawaii could get pounded again in coming days from another tropical system gaining strength over warm Pacific waters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of strength
Verb
  • His removal triggered mass protests that lasted for weeks but ultimately failed to force a reversal of the decision.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The throw arrived in time but landed several feet short, forcing Knizner in an awkward position to make a difficult pick.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of force
Verb
  • Uncertainty about when the war with Iran will allow oil tankers to freely exit the Persian Gulf again has roiled markets, causing oil prices to rise and pushing up Treasury yields due to worries over inflation.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Smith's federal complaint included the same account and alleged that the school discriminated against her son because of his disability and race, including deploying pressure tactics to push her Black son out of the public school.
    — Claire Sibonney, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of push
Noun
  • Erin Patterson was convicted last year of deliberately lacing a beef wellington meal with death cap mushrooms to murder her children’s grandparents and the wife of the local pastor.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Guests can expect unique beers from Chicagoland, food specials like Chicago Dogs and Italian beef from the food vendors, Cubs baseball on the big screen and the Andrew Williams Band playing live Chicago-style blues.
    — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of beef
Noun
  • Why people don’t like it Some residents are worried about how these sprawling energy farms will affect local soil, especially near farmland.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • There’s also a kids water park for the more rambunctious members of the family to get their energy out.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of energy
Verb
  • Federal prosecutors claimed that Jeffries leveraged his wealth and power as Abercrombie’s CEO to coerce dozens of men into having sex with him and Smith.
    — Chloe Atkins, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The inspection followed a hunger strike by detainees, who in a letter, complained about rotten or worm-infested food, medical neglect, and being coerced into signing deportation orders.
    — Vanessa Romo, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of coerce
Verb
  • Questions no longer centre on marking this era with a trophy, but on how much juice is left to squeeze.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • To protect a specific area, such as a garden, Parker recommends properly installing snake fencing made from quarter-inch hardware cloth, which can help keep even newborn copperheads from squeezing through.
    — Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of squeeze

Browse Nearby Words

murrains
muscle
muscle-bound
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Cite this Entry

“Muscle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muscle. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on muscle

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about muscle

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