Synonyms for muscle

Grammar : Noun

Spell : muhs-uhl

Phonetic Transcription : ˈmʌs əl

Top 10 synonyms for muscle

Other synonyms for the word muscle

Définition of muscle

Origin : late 14c., from Middle French muscle "muscle, sinew" (14c.) and directly from Latin musculus "a muscle," literally "little mouse," diminutive of mus "mouse" (see mouse (n.)).
So called because the shape and movement of some muscles (notably biceps) were thought to resemble mice. The analogy was made in Greek, too, where mys is both "mouse" and "muscle," and its comb. form gives the medical prefix myo-. Cf. also Old Church Slavonic mysi "mouse," mysica "arm;" German Maus "mouse; muscle," Arabic 'adalah "muscle," 'adal "field mouse." In Middle English, lacerte, from the Latin word for "lizard," also was used as a word for a muscle.
Musclez & lacertez bene one selfe þing, Bot þe muscle is said to þe fourme of mouse & lacert to þe fourme of a lizard. [Guy de Chauliac, "Grande Chirurgie," c.1425]
Hence muscular and mousy are relatives, and a Middle English word for "muscular" was lacertous, "lizardy." Figurative sense of "force, violence, threat of violence" is 1930, American English. Muscle car "hot rod" is from 1969.

noun large fibers of animal body
noun power, influence

Example sentences :

In a swerve he almost stopped, every muscle of his big body trembling in affright.
Extract from : « Thoroughbreds » by W. A. Fraser

The tall son of Hanover was lean of flesh, but gross in muscle.
Extract from : « Thoroughbreds » by W. A. Fraser

"Ah, but he has mind as well as muscle," put in Mr. Stewart.
Extract from : « In the Valley » by Harold Frederic

There was some tension of mind or muscle that kept sleep far from him.
Extract from : « The Rock of Chickamauga » by Joseph A. Altsheler

She came up straight and tall, a concluded resolution in every muscle.
Extract from : « Tiverton Tales » by Alice Brown

And not a muscle of his face stirred; he simply gazed into the void.
Extract from : « The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete » by Emile Zola

He had not touched a muscle or a muscular nerve; what then was the nature of these movements?
Extract from : « Self-Help » by Samuel Smiles

It was all muscle, bone, and sinew-fighting flesh in the finest condition.
Extract from : « White Fang » by Jack London

It cannot digest itself; it cannot of its own accord turn into bone and muscle and blood.
Extract from : « The Child and the Curriculum » by John Dewey

Impertinence, gayety, agility, muscle—that was what women loved in men.
Extract from : « A Spirit in Prison » by Robert Hichens

Antonyms for muscle

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019