muscular
gb/mˈʌskjəlɚ/ us/mˈʌskjəlɚ/
B1
English
~ 7600
izmos, izomzati, erőteljes
B1
1
izmos
A2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is/looks muscular
He has a muscular build from years of weight training.
A sokéves súlyzós edzéstől izmos a testalkata.
The superhero was tall, muscular, and impossibly strong.
A szuperhős magas, izmos és hihetetlenül erős volt.
After months at the gym, her arms became noticeably more muscular.
The role required an actor with a very muscular body.
Swimming regularly helped him develop a lean but muscular physique.
Learner examples
The man at the gym is very muscular.
Az edzőteremben lévő férfi nagyon izmos.
She wants to get more muscular, so she lifts weights.
Szeretne izmosabb lenni, ezért súlyzózik.
The dog is small but very muscular.
He has muscular legs from playing soccer.
That actor is famous for his muscular body.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "muscular" with "muscle" and say *"he is very muscle"* instead of *"he is very muscular"*. "Muscle" is a noun; "muscular" is the adjective describing a person or body part.
Meaning
having strong, well-developed muscles
Collocations
muscular build
|muscular body
|muscular arms
|muscular legs
|muscular physique
|muscular man
Synonyms
brawny (Often suggests very large, strong muscles and a rugged look; slightly more literary.)
|
well-built (Focuses on an overall strong body shape; not always as focused on visible muscles as "muscular.")
Antonyms
skinny (Suggests being very thin with little visible muscle.)
Themes
appearance
|health
|sports
|body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Having big, strong muscles that you can easily see.
Having large, well-defined muscles and noticeable physical strength.
B2
TECHNICAL
2
izomzati
B2
Usage pattern:
muscular [system/disease/pain/contraction]
The doctor suspects a muscular disorder rather than a problem with the bones.
Az orvos csontprobléma helyett izomzati rendellenességre gyanakszik.
Stretching can reduce muscular tension in the neck and shoulders.
A nyújtás csökkentheti a nyak és a váll izomfeszülését.
The study focuses on muscular development in children.
Some patients experience muscular pain as a side effect of the drug.
Regular exercise improves both muscular strength and endurance.
Learner examples
He went to the doctor because of strong muscular pain in his back.
Erős hátizomfájdalom miatt ment orvoshoz.
The muscular system helps us move our bodies.
Az izomrendszer segít mozgatni a testünket.
This disease causes slow muscular weakness.
Massage can relax the muscular tension in your neck.
Good posture can help prevent muscular problems.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse the common word "muscle" and say *"muscle pain"* when a more natural technical term is "muscular pain" in medical contexts. However, "muscle pain" is still understandable and often used in everyday speech.
Meaning
relating to the muscles
Collocations
muscular system
|muscular contraction
|muscular tissue
|muscular disease
|muscular pain
|muscular weakness
Synonyms
muscle-related (Informal descriptive phrase; less standard than the single adjective "muscular.")
|
myopathic (Technical medical term usually limited to diseases of muscles; narrower than general "muscular.")
Antonyms
non-muscular (General opposite meaning not involving the muscles.)
Themes
medicine
|biology
|health
|body
|science
Definition
About the muscles in the body, or happening in the muscles.
Relating to, involving, or affecting the muscles of the body.
C1
3
erőteljes
B2
Usage pattern:
muscular [policy/response/writing/performance]
The government promised a muscular response to the cyberattack.
A kormány erőteljes választ ígért a kibertámadásra.
Critics praised the novel for its muscular, direct prose.
A kritikusok erőteljes, közvetlen prózájáért dicsérték a regényt.
The company adopted a more muscular strategy to compete in global markets.
Her muscular performance dominated the stage and held the audience's attention.
The editorial called for a muscular approach to climate policy.
Learner examples
The new leader is known for his muscular style of politics.
Az új vezető erőteljes politikai stílusáról ismert.
The article uses clear, muscular language.
A cikk világos, erőteljes nyelvezetet használ.
They want a more muscular plan to fight crime.
The team showed a muscular defense in the final game.
The company took a muscular approach to winning new customers.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this meaning always refers to the body. In phrases like "muscular policy" or "muscular prose," it is metaphorical and means strong and forceful, not physically full of muscles.
Meaning
powerful and forceful in style
Collocations
muscular foreign policy
|muscular response
|muscular leadership
|muscular language
|muscular prose
|muscular performance
Synonyms
forceful (Very close in meaning, but does not carry the literal physical-strength image that "muscular" suggests metaphorically.)
|
robust (Suggests strong and effective; slightly more formal and less aggressive than "muscular.")
Antonyms
weak (Lacking power, impact, or firmness, which is the opposite of a "muscular" style or action.)
Themes
politics
|communication
|business
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Very strong and forceful in the way something is done, like writing or action.
Strong, forceful, or powerful in style, effect, or approach, often in writing, performance, or policy.
Grammar
Dictionary form
muscular
IPA
GB/mˈʌskjəlɚ/
US/mˈʌskjəlɚ/
Syllables & stress
mus - cu - lar (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (mus)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: muscular
Word family
Core family
muscle
noun A2
Related words
muscly
adjective
Advanced or less common
musculature
noun
muscularity
noun
Expressions
muscular build
1/mˈʌskjəlɚ bˈɪld/
fixed phrase
body shape with large muscles
A type of body that has big, strong muscles.
Examples
- He has a muscular build that makes him look like an athlete.
- Her muscular build comes from years of competitive swimming.
- The character in the video game has an exaggerated muscular build.
muscular Christianity
1/mˈʌskjəlɚ kɹˌɪst͡ʃiˈænɪti/
fixed phrase
literary
Christianity linked with manly strength
An idea in some Christian groups that good Christians, especially men, should be strong, active, and brave as well as religious.
Examples
- The novel reflects the ideals of muscular Christianity popular in the late nineteenth century.
- Sports were often promoted in schools as part of a broader muscular Christianity.
- His sermons mixed faith with the language of muscular Christianity and moral strength.
muscular dystrophy
1/mˈʌskjəlɚ dˈɪstɹəfi/
fixed phrase
technical
inherited disease causing muscle wasting
A serious illness you are born with that slowly makes your muscles weaker and smaller over time.
Examples
- He raises money for charities that support children with muscular dystrophy.
- Muscular dystrophy often leads to difficulty walking as the muscles weaken.
- Researchers are working on new treatments for muscular dystrophy.
muscular liberalism
1/mˈʌskjəlɚ lˈɪbɚəlˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
formal
strong, assertive form of liberalism
A kind of liberal politics that tries very hard and very clearly to protect free speech, equality, and other liberal ideas, even in a strict way.
Examples
- The prime minister described his policy as a kind of muscular liberalism.
- Critics argue that muscular liberalism can become too controlling of minority cultures.
- Her speech called for muscular liberalism in defense of human rights.
muscular system
1/mˈʌskjəlɚ sˈɪstəm/
fixed phrase
technical
body system of all muscles
All the muscles in the body, seen together as one system.
Examples
- In biology class we learned how the muscular system works with the skeletal system.
- Regular exercise keeps your muscular system strong and healthy.
- Damage to the nervous system can affect the muscular system.