What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
brawn
Example
He showed off his brawn by lifting the heavy weights effortlessly. [brawn: noun]
Example
She has a lot of brawn from years of weightlifting. [brawn: noun]
muscle
Example
His muscles bulged as he lifted the heavy box. [muscles: noun]
Example
She has been working out regularly to build muscle. [muscle: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Muscle is more commonly used than brawn in everyday language. Muscle is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts related to fitness and physical health, while brawn is less common and often used in specific contexts to emphasize strength or power.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between brawn and muscle?
While brawn is typically associated with a casual and informal tone, muscle is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.