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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of muscle
Zach Pressnell, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
Progressive muscle relaxation: A technique that involves consciously tensing and then relaxing muscle groups one by one.
—Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 24 Jan. 2025
Catie Edmondson, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2024
The trio met up with two others, John True and Baxter Shorter, in the San Fernando Valley and, over dinner, hatched the robbery plan: Graham would knock on the door, claiming car trouble, and the others would muscle their way in.
—airmail.news, 30 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for muscle 
Noun
This is the kind of financial move New York should make to flex some fiscal muscle.
—Zach Pressnell, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
Progressive muscle relaxation: A technique that involves consciously tensing and then relaxing muscle groups one by one.
—Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
How might this initiative factor into the vast tax package the G.O.P. is expected to muscle through Congress, which could add trillions more to the debt?
—Catie Edmondson, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2024
The trio met up with two others, John True and Baxter Shorter, in the San Fernando Valley and, over dinner, hatched the robbery plan: Graham would knock on the door, claiming car trouble, and the others would muscle their way in.
—airmail.news, 30 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for muscle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muscle
Noun
-
Fires caused by utility equipment have increased the risk and economic vulnerability for power providers as extreme weather driven by climate change has challenged the nation’s aging electrical infrastructure.—
Ivan Penn,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2025
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But once the plane was airborne, the board staff said, it could have been pulled out of a sudden stall if the crew had applied emergency power and lowered its nose.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Trump has grasped the strength of this leverage in a way the Biden Administration, which was fearful of sparking global inflation through tougher sanctions, did not.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
TIME,
23 Jan. 2025
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But players adapt and evolve, and Guardiola slightly tweaking his approach to suit the strengths of individuals isn’t something new.—
Ahmed Walid,
The Athletic,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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With that ban set to expire at the end of January, supervisors were forced to make a decision on the recurring problem.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacramento Bee,
30 Jan. 2025
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Without the ice, they are forced to hunt in open water, which is a difficult feat for the large apex predator.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
30 Jan. 2025
Verb
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If adopted, the legislative changes — pushed by House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton — would render DeSantis virtually powerless over immigration enforcement in Florida.—
Ana Ceballos,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2025
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Still another worry: A recent rise in long-term interest rates – partly due to inflation fears - that have pushed up consumer and business borrowing costs.—
Paul Davidson,
USA TODAY,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Anderson Reserve specializes in quality meats — particularly beef that gets dry-aged in-house.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Jan. 2025
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Ralph's Packing Company recalled ready-to-eat pork and beef bologna products due to misbranding and an undeclared milk allergen.—
Jonathan Granoff,
Newsweek,
29 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The mandate also targets oil and gas leasing in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and again revokes the conservation status of 28 million acres of public land that had been withdrawn from mineral and energy development since 1971.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
31 Jan. 2025
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Or the energy could hint at something more exotic: interactions between dark matter and itself, or unknown interactions between dark matter and more familiar matter.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The alleged 'hitman' himself, Allen Glover, has admitted his testimony was coerced.—
Jonathan Granoff,
Newsweek,
29 Jan. 2025
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Writing for the majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy concluded that such a ceremony subtly coerces students into participating in that prayer.—
Ian Millhiser,
Vox,
28 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Jair Bolsonaro’s Stay-Out-of-Jail Card: The former Brazilian president, squeezed by criminal investigations, is looking to Trump, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg to shift his nation’s politics — and maybe keep him a free man.—
Ruth Maclean,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
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Use a fire extinguisher by pulling the pin, aiming at the base of the fire, squeezing the lever slowly and sweeping the nozzle side to side For a grease fire, try to cover the flames with a lid or pan to snuff them out.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
23 Jan. 2025
Video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs
Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes
Thesaurus Entries Near muscle
Cite this Entry
“Muscle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muscle. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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