brawny

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "brawny" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone who is physically strong or muscular. Example: "The brawny athlete easily lifted the heavy weights during the competition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The 'canary' yellow with green side panels somehow made an even greater sight of the brawny specimens donning Australian caps (and also provided a colourful back-drop to the underarm incident, it must be said), while powder blue, maroon, lime green and beige surely reached their zenith.

The Guardian - Sport

Yet at the same time, his public persona is cheeky and cheerful: he sometimes seems to heckle himself.At a recent public meeting outside Bristol, in south-west England, Mr Farage played the packed room (Tory-faithful types, ranging from pensioners in blazers to brawny small businessmen) like a virtuoso.

The Economist

The polite, effete Liberal Party was steadily giving way to the brawny politics of organised labour.

The Economist

Toby Perkins, the brawny shadow minister for small and medium-sized enterprises, enjoyed a manicure at a local nail bar.

The Economist

Its bomb-disposing hero (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) is a brawny bore, poor Godzilla is reduced to the status of a supporting player, and, worst of all, whenever the computer-generated leviathans are on screen, Mr Edwards seems intent on hiding them, as if he's embarrassed to have them in his film.

The Economist

Chess and bridge typically attract the brainy not the brawny.

The Economist

"They're all in it for themselves," says a brawny stallholder of politicians generally.Many Britons want nothing to do with politics.

The Economist

It was a tough gig, involving lots of middle-aged men in overalls, brawny arms folded sceptically as they listened.

The Economist

The end user is not the consumer but a big, brawny company.

The Economist

In the meantime, the video-game industry is continually trying to increase the realism of its basketball players and brawny mercenaries.

The Economist

A book of brawny prose sheathed in cool intelligence.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing people, use "brawny" to suggest both physical strength and a robust, healthy appearance. This is particularly effective when emphasizing a character's imposing presence.

Common error

Avoid using "brawny" in formal or professional writing where a more neutral term like "strong" or "robust" might be more appropriate. "Brawny" has a somewhat informal connotation.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "brawny" functions primarily as a descriptive term, characterizing nouns with the quality of being muscular, strong, or physically powerful. Ludwig examples show its use in describing people, objects, and even abstract concepts like prose.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

30%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Brawny" is an adjective used to describe something or someone muscular or physically strong. Ludwig AI confirms that the term is grammatically correct and widely used. With 58 examples found by Ludwig, it is considered a very common word, often appearing in news and media contexts. The term serves to emphasize physical strength and robustness, painting a vivid picture. While generally neutral in register, "brawny" leans toward informal and is best used when describing people or objects where physical power is a key attribute. For more formal contexts, synonyms like "strong" or "robust" may be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

muscular

Focuses specifically on well-developed muscles.

brawny figure

Adds the explicit mention of a body shape.

strong

A general term for physical power or force.

physically powerful

Directly states the presence of physical power.

robust

Implies health and vigor in addition to strength.

well-built

Focuses on the good physical construction.

strapping

Suggests a tall and well-built physique.

burly

Indicates a heavy and sturdy build.

sturdy

Implies a resilience to pressure.

heavyset

Describes a person who is large and solid.

FAQs

How to use "brawny" in a sentence?

"Brawny" is an adjective used to describe someone or something physically strong. For example, "The lumberjack was a "brawny" man with arms like tree trunks".

What can I say instead of "brawny"?

You can use alternatives like "muscular", "strong", or "robust" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "brawny" or "brawney"?

"Brawny" is the correct spelling. "Brawney" is a misspelling and should be avoided.

What's the difference between "brawny" and "muscular"?

While both words describe physical strength, "brawny" often implies a more rugged or robust strength, while "muscular" specifically refers to well-developed muscles.