1
as in muscular
having muscles capable of exerting great physical force
the store manager always asked the brawniest person there to do the heavy lifting
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sinewy
marked by a well-developed musculature
brawny arms that weren't developed in the gym but by years of work in the construction business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in athletic
strongly and heavily built
a tough little boy who's going to be a brawny man someday
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brawny
Thanks to all that power, the brawny cruiser could sprint from zero to 60 mph in under six seconds and reach a top speed of 181 mph.
—
Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 14 Jan. 2026
The actor Nicholas Christopher—brawny, bald, with a perpetually cocked eyebrow that brings to mind Yul Brynner—strode through the aisles of Tashkent Supermarket in Brighton Beach one afternoon.
—Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
Taurus’s strong and brawny vibe is 100% visible in Scrappy-Doo.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
People who build big and brawny machines tend to have egos to match.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brawny
Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 14 Jan. 2026
The actor Nicholas Christopher—brawny, bald, with a perpetually cocked eyebrow that brings to mind Yul Brynner—strode through the aisles of Tashkent Supermarket in Brighton Beach one afternoon.
—Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
Taurus’s strong and brawny vibe is 100% visible in Scrappy-Doo.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
People who build big and brawny machines tend to have egos to match.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brawny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brawny
Adjective
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An emphasis on leanness and muscular prowess The primary sports where eating disorders traditionally surface are gymnastics, wrestling, dancing, bodybuilding and figure skating, since these are sports where weight and body image often come into play.—
Emily Hemendinger,
The Conversation,
13 Feb. 2026
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In this context, Attia’s insistence on muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness speak directly to our survivorship challenges.—
Gilberto Lopes,
STAT,
12 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Hašek is athletic royalty in the small, hockey-loving country in central Europe.—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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In short, pairs is way more athletic.—
John Cherwa,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Among the recovered materials, dysprosium, ytterbium, and erbium are considered high-value due to strong demand and limited substitutes, while yttrium and gadolinium are widely used in electronics, lighting, and healthcare.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
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Paris Reuters — French wine and spirits exports fell last year to their lowest volume in at least 25 years as US tariffs and Chinese duties hit sales and a strong euro made some alcohol more expensive, industry group FEVS said on Tuesday, warning of no imminent relief.—
Reuters 9 hr ago,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But at the same time, [the Gates Foundation’s spend-down announcement] has ended up being a very powerful call to action, both for our staff and for many of our partners.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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These concerns are sharpened by the shadow of Epstein, whose connections to powerful figures continue to surface.—
Lauryn Overhultz , Ashley Papa , Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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There are also giant granite boulders dotting the shore, giving it a decidedly remote, rugged feel.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
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Both the Hangout Shade 7 and Hangout Shade 10 feature the rugged, adventure-ready Aerotech PVC inflatable construction that features throughout Bote's product line.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Reporters flowed to Sullivan, Maine, for an audience with the burly oysterman (just as soon as they were done with the Jesus-loving Democrat in Texas).—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
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Like Kevin Brown, the burly Reuschel was largely unappreciated during his time.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The film has generated a mighty $147 million globally, including $93 million in the United States and $54 million overseas.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
8 Feb. 2026
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Allison developed a mighty reputation amongst heavy-duty pickup buyers throughout the 2000s and 2010s.—
Caleb Jacobs,
The Drive,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Mushrooms Mushrooms provide a beefy, hearty flavor and texture.—
Carrie Madormo,
Verywell Health,
11 Feb. 2026
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The beefy treats can be found in joints from West Palm Beach down to the eastern end of Alligator Alley.—
Robert F. Moss,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brawny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brawny. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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