brawny
adjective
ˈbrȯ-nē 
brawnier; brawniest
1
: muscular
also : strong, powerful
2
: being swollen and hard
a brawny infected foot
brawnily
ˈbrȯ-nə-lē
adverb brawniness
ˈbrȯ-nē-nəs
noun 
Synonyms
- muscular
- rugged
- sinewy
- stalwart
- stout
- strong
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the store manager always asked the brawniest person there to do the heavy lifting brawny arms that weren't developed in the gym but by years of work in the construction business
Recent Examples on the Web The raylike accompaniment emanated from a long-necked harp called the kora, plucked by a brawny monk in the choir’s front row. 
Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2022 The tuner has swapped out the brawny mill’s supercharger for a pair of turbochargers and equipped it with Manley pistons, Ferrera competition valves and a new fuel system. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2022 The bold, brawny rub of my dreams begins with a strong vein of spice. Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 25 Aug. 2022 As the name makes clear, the V12 Vantage Roadster is powered by the automaker’s brawny V-12. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 22 Aug. 2022 Elba, a reliably suave man of action, shrewdly downplays here as a bumbling dad who, brawny frame and medical expertise aside, is no physical match for Pridezilla. Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2022 When the two are together as Hulks, their differences are made more physically manifest; Jen’s alter ego looks more just like an extremely tall, muscled woman, while Bruce becomes an unfathomably brawny colossus. Caroline Framke, Variety, 17 Aug. 2022 His height and athleticism mean any extra physicality that exists in the Premier League compared to the Bundesliga will not be a problem for the brawny 22-year-old. James Nalton, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 His big, brawny sound is matched by his dexterity and harmonic sophistication. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2022 See More
Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2022 The tuner has swapped out the brawny mill’s supercharger for a pair of turbochargers and equipped it with Manley pistons, Ferrera competition valves and a new fuel system. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2022 The bold, brawny rub of my dreams begins with a strong vein of spice. Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 25 Aug. 2022 As the name makes clear, the V12 Vantage Roadster is powered by the automaker’s brawny V-12. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 22 Aug. 2022 Elba, a reliably suave man of action, shrewdly downplays here as a bumbling dad who, brawny frame and medical expertise aside, is no physical match for Pridezilla. Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2022 When the two are together as Hulks, their differences are made more physically manifest; Jen’s alter ego looks more just like an extremely tall, muscled woman, while Bruce becomes an unfathomably brawny colossus. Caroline Framke, Variety, 17 Aug. 2022 His height and athleticism mean any extra physicality that exists in the Premier League compared to the Bundesliga will not be a problem for the brawny 22-year-old. James Nalton, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 His big, brawny sound is matched by his dexterity and harmonic sophistication. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
brawny
adjective
ˈbrȯ-nē
brawnier; brawniest
: having large strong muscles a brawny athlete
Medical Definition
brawny
adjective
ˈbrȯ-nē
brawnier; brawniest
: being swollen and hard
a brawny infected foot
brawny
adjective
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- muscular
- strong
- powerful
- rugged
- stout
- mighty
- sinewy
- stalwart
- masculine
- athletic
- sturdy
- burly
- beefy
- tough
- potent
- virile
- forceful
- husky
- strapping
- energetic
- vigorous
- hard
- trim
- forcible
- puissant
- fit
- healthy
- robust
- lusty
- strengthened
- vitalized
- toughened
- hale
- sound
- able-bodied
- inured
- hearty
- red-blooded
- invigorated
- energized
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- weak
- feeble
- delicate
- frail
- wimpy
- challenged
- weakling
- disabled
- small
- impotent
- paralyzed
- incapacitated
- puny
- powerless
- slight
- unfit
- unhealthy
- unathletic
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
- muscular
- sinewy
- burly
- athletic
- beefy
- wiry
- powerful
- strong
- hulking
- strapping
- sturdy
- sculpted
- robust
- mighty
- husky
- stout
- hefty
- muscle-bound
- stalwart
- herculean
- rugged
- able-bodied
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- scrawny
- skinny
- weak
- feeble
- wimpy
- fragile
- delicate
- slender
- frail
- lightweight
- effete
- lean
- slight
- thin
- weakened
- enfeebled
- debilitated
- nonathletic
- weakly
- light
- svelte
- willowy
- slim
- gaunt
- rawboned
- spare
- emaciated
- lank
- enervated
- sylphlike
- scraggy
3
as in burly
strongly and heavily built a tough little boy who's going to be a brawny man someday Synonyms & Similar Words
- burly
- beefy
- hulking
- athletic
- powerful
- husky
- mighty
- muscular
- stout
- sturdy
- strong
- hefty
- mesomorphic
- rugged
- sinewy
- solid
- strapping
- stocky
- robust
- muscle-bound
- heavy
- thickset
- stalwart
- heavyset
- herculean
- pudgy
- chubby
- compact
- chunky
- squatty
- squat
- lumpish
- tubby
- portly
- dumpy
- able-bodied
- podgy
- roly-poly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- slender
- lean
- thin
- svelte
- lightweight
- willowy
- lanky
- slight
- slim
- scrawny
- light
- bony
- skinny
- wiry
- weedy
- gaunt
- gawky
- stringy
- reedy
- spare
- scraggy
- sylphlike
- waspish
- twiggy
- gangling
- weak
- feeble
- puny
- wimpy
- fragile
- spidery
- delicate
- frail
- gangly
- boney
- effete
- emaciated
- enfeebled
- debilitated
- infirm
- weakly
- unathletic
- enervated
- dead-bright
- dead-burn
- dead-cat bounce
- dead-doing
- dead-drunk
- dead-drunkenness
- dead-end
- dead-ended
- dead-endedness
- dead-ending
- dead-ends
- dead-front switchboard
- dead-leaf butterfly
- dead-man's-fingers
- dead-men's-fingers
- dead-on
- dead-rise model
- dead-roast
- dead-smooth
- dead-soft
- dead-stick landing
- dead-stroke
- dead-stroke hammer
- dead-tree
- deadbeat