muscular man

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "muscular man" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It refers to a man who has well-developed muscles. Example: The gym was filled with muscular men, lifting weights and grunting with exertion.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"[Matt] was very imposing, a big muscular man and very strong.

Independent

The driver emerged, a large, muscular man with a thick mustache and a gentle face.

The New Yorker

A muscular man like this should be able to overcome this kind of resistance easily.

The New York Times

Our guide, Vladimir Shashilov, was a tall muscular man who worked for a local power plant.

The New York Times - Travel

He was a big muscular man, with a curly golden beard, tanned skin, and huge hands.

The New Yorker

Even rarer is the slightly built but muscular man doing jetés among the women.

The New York Times

A slight, muscular man with dreadlocks and a long beard, Mr. St.

The New York Times

From the crowd, a muscular man is seen grabbing the fan's ankle and pulling him down.

The Guardian - Music

He was the Arnold Schwarzenegger of his day, three times named "America's Most Muscular Man".

The New York Times

In front of the immigration judge, the tall, muscular man began to weep.

The New York Times

Ron, a federal law-enforcement agent, is a trim, muscular man with a military bearing.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In creative writing, pair the phrase with specific adjectives like 'lean' or 'heavily' to give a more precise mental image.

Common error

Avoid using 'strong' and 'muscular' together unless you are explicitly distinguishing between aesthetic appearance and functional ability. Saying 'a strong muscular man' is often tautological in general descriptions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "muscular man" functions primarily as a noun phrase consisting of an attributive adjective and a common noun. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it often serves as the subject of a sentence or a descriptive appositive to identify a specific individual in a narrative.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

8%

Fiction & Narrative

5%

Less common in

Science

1%

Formal & Business

0.5%

Academia

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "muscular man" is a highly effective and ubiquitous descriptive term in the English language. According to Ludwig AI, it is consistently recognized as grammatically correct and is used extensively across top-tier publications like The New York Times and The New Yorker. Whether used in a journalistic context to describe a witness or in literature to define a character, it provides a clear, unambiguous image of physical development. While synonyms like "athletic man" or "brawny man" offer specific variations in tone, "muscular man" remains the most versatile and standard choice for describing a male with well-developed musculature.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

strong man

Focuses more on physical power and capability rather than just visible muscle mass.

athletic man

Suggests a build optimized for sports and agility, often leaner than simply 'muscular'.

well-built man

A more formal way to describe a balanced and sturdy physical frame.

brawny man

Emphasizes heavy, thick muscles and a powerful, rugged appearance.

fit man

A broader term focusing on general health and physical condition.

burly man

Implies a large, heavy, and strong physique, often with a broader frame.

toned man

Describes visible muscle definition without necessarily implying bulk or great size.

stocky man

Describes a person who is short but heavily built and muscular.

rugged man

Connects muscularity with a tough, weathered, or outdoor appearance.

stout man

Usually implies a thickset or heavy build, though historically it could mean strong.

FAQs

How to use "muscular man" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a subject's appearance, for example: 'The "muscular man" easily lifted the heavy crates onto the truck'.

What is the difference between "muscular man" and "strong man"?

While often used interchangeably, a "muscular man" refers to visible muscle definition, whereas a "strong man" refers to the ability to exert force, regardless of how his muscles look.

What can I say instead of "muscular man"?

Depending on the specific build, you might use "athletic man" for a leaner look or "well-built man" for a more general description of a good physique.

Is "muscular man" formal enough for a report?

Yes, it is a neutral and descriptive phrase. However, in medical or highly formal contexts, you might prefer "mesomorphic" or simply describing the "physical stature".