often attributive
1
a
: a body tissue consisting of long cells that contract when stimulated and produce motion
b
: an organ that is essentially a mass of muscle tissue attached at either end to a fixed point and that by contracting moves or checks the movement of a body part
muscled; muscling
ˈmə-s(ə-)liŋ 
: to move or force by or as if by muscular effort
muscled him out of office
: to make one's way by brute strength or by force
Synonyms
Examples of muscle in a Sentence
Noun
the muscles of the arm
an athlete with bulging muscles
He pulled a muscle playing tennis.
She has a strained muscle in her back.
She started lifting weights to build muscle.
She doesn't have the muscle to lift something so heavy.
Verb
They muscled the heavy boxes onto the truck.
They muscled the furniture up the stairs.
He muscled through the crowd.
They muscled into line behind us.
Recent Examples on the Web
Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 15 Aug. 2024
Afterward, the Duluth, Minn., native was diagnosed as a T12 incomplete paraplegic, which affects lower body functions, including difficulty standing and walking, muscle spasms and more.
—Mason Branstrator, Peoplemag, 15 Aug. 2024
Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 15 Aug. 2024
He’s made to sound like a hunk in a romance novel—heavily muscled, symmetrically proportioned, so frequently shirtless that his skin had darkened.
—Boyce Upholt, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for muscle 
Noun
Research shows that running has the potential to help strengthen muscles, build strong bones, and maintain a healthy weight.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 15 Aug. 2024
Afterward, the Duluth, Minn., native was diagnosed as a T12 incomplete paraplegic, which affects lower body functions, including difficulty standing and walking, muscle spasms and more.
—Mason Branstrator, Peoplemag, 15 Aug. 2024
Verb
The company has used its giant scale and profits from higher-margin businesses like advertising to muscle down prices.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 15 Aug. 2024
He’s made to sound like a hunk in a romance novel—heavily muscled, symmetrically proportioned, so frequently shirtless that his skin had darkened.
—Boyce Upholt, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for muscle
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'muscle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs
Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes
Dictionary Entries Near muscle
Cite this Entry
“Muscle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/muscle. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
muscle
1 of 2 noun
mus·cle
ˈməs-əl
1
a
: a body tissue consisting of long cells that can contract and produce motion
b
: an organ that is a mass of muscle tissue attached at either end to a fixed point (as to bones) and that by contracting moves or stops the movement of a body part
2
a
: muscular strength : brawn
b
: power entry 1 sense 2
lacks the muscle to make good on campaign promises
muscle
2 of 2 verb
muscled; muscling
ˈməs-(ə-)liŋ
1
: to force from a position
was muscled out of office by political opponents
2
: to force one's way
muscled through the crowd
Etymology
Noun
from Latin musculus "muscle, little mouse," from mus "mouse"
Word Origin
People today are perhaps unlikely to think of their muscles as resembling mice. The ancient Romans, however, saw a likeness, especially in the major muscles of the arms and legs. For that reason the Latin word musculus, which originally meant "little mouse," came to be used to mean "muscle."
Medical Definition
muscle
noun
mus·cle
ˈməs-əl
often attributive
1
: a body tissue consisting of long cells that contract when stimulated and produce motion see cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, striated muscle
2
: an organ that is essentially a mass of muscle tissue attached at either end to a fixed point and that by contracting moves or checks the movement of a body part see agonist sense 1, antagonist sense a, synergist sense 2
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