Brawny vs. Strong — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 4, 2024
Brawny emphasizes physical bulk and muscle, suggesting a hefty, muscular build, while strong refers more broadly to overall strength, including physical, mental, or structural robustness.
Difference Between Brawny and Strong
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Key Differences
Brawny is specifically used to describe someone with a large, muscular build, often implying a certain heftiness and visible muscle mass. On the other hand, strong encompasses a broader range of strengths, not limited to physical attributes it can also refer to mental resilience or the durability of an object.
While brawny always pertains to physical appearance, suggesting visible muscles and a stout physique, strong can refer to unseen qualities, such as emotional strength or the strength of a material that might not be immediately visible.
In common usage, calling someone brawny often connotes a kind of rugged, substantial muscularity that is noticeable and impressive. Whereas strong might be used to describe someone's ability to perform physically demanding tasks, regardless of how muscular they appear.
Brawny individuals are typically perceived as physically imposing, which can be advantageous in scenarios requiring physical labor or intimidation. In contrast, someone who is strong may not necessarily look imposing but possesses the ability to exert great force or withstand significant pressure.
The term brawny tends to be more niche and descriptive, used in contexts where physical size and muscle matter explicitly. Strong, meanwhile, is versatile and widely applicable across various contexts, including descriptions of character, materials, and even flavors or smells.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Physically bulky and muscular.
Capable of exerting force or enduring pressure.
Focus
Physical appearance and muscle mass.
General capability across physical, mental, and structural areas.
Connotation
Heftiness and visible muscles.
Broadly applicable to various forms of strength.
Usage Contexts
Descriptive of physical body build.
Descriptive of abilities, materials, or mental traits.
Implications
Implies physical presence and size.
Implies functionality and capability.
Compare with Definitions
Brawny
Strong, with a focus on bulk.
His brawny arms were the result of years in the gym.
Strong
Capable of withstanding great force or pressure.
The bridge was designed to be strong enough to handle intense traffic.
Brawny
Physically imposing.
The brawny silhouette of the bodybuilder was unmistakable against the sunset.
Strong
Having great physical power.
She is strong enough to compete in weightlifting championships.
Brawny
Robust and hefty build.
The linebacker was not just tall but distinctly brawny.
Strong
Marked by intensity or potency.
The coffee was unexpectedly strong and bitter.
Brawny
Muscular and physically strong.
The brawny mover easily lifted the heavy furniture.
Strong
Firm and robust in constitution.
His strong constitution helped him recover quickly from illness.
Brawny
Conveying an impression of strength.
He had a brawny appearance that made him perfect for the role of the hero.
Strong
Mentally powerful or vigorous.
Her strong resolve was evident in her decision to pursue further education.
Brawny
Strong and muscular.
Strong
Having the power to move heavy weights or perform other physically demanding tasks
She cut through the water with her strong arms
Brawny
Characterized by brawn; muscular, thewy; strong.
Rattler was a big, brawny fellow, and he stepped up in front of me, rolling up his sleeves.
Strong
Able to withstand force, pressure, or wear
Cotton is strong, hard-wearing, and easy to handle
Brawny
Calloused; hardened.
Strong
Very intense
A strong smell
Brawny
Having large, strong muscles; muscular; fleshy; strong.
Strong
Used after a number to indicate the size of a group
A hostile crowd several thousands strong
Brawny
(of a person) possessing physical strength and weight; rugged and powerful;
A hefty athlete
A muscular boxer
Powerful arms
Strong
Denoting a class of verbs in Germanic languages that form the past tense and past participle by a change of vowel within the stem rather than by addition of a suffix (e.g. swim, swam, swum).
Strong
Relating to or denoting the strongest of the known kinds of force between particles, which acts between nucleons and other hadrons when closer than about 10⁻¹³ cm (so binding protons in a nucleus despite the repulsion due to their charge), and which conserves strangeness, parity, and isospin.
Strong
Physically powerful; capable of exerting great physical force.
Strong
Marked by great physical power
A strong blow to the head.
Strong
In good or sound health; robust
A strong constitution.
A strong heart.
Strong
Economically or financially sound or thriving
A strong economy.
Strong
Having force of character, will, morality, or intelligence
A strong personality.
Strong
Having or showing ability or achievement in a specified field
Students who are strong in chemistry.
Strong
Capable of the effective exercise of authority
A strong leader.
Strong
Capable of withstanding force or wear; solid, tough, or firm
A strong building.
A strong fabric.
Strong
Having great binding strength
A strong adhesive.
Strong
Not easily captured or defeated
A strong flank.
A strong defense.
Strong
Not easily upset; resistant to harmful or unpleasant influences
Strong nerves.
A strong stomach.
Strong
Having force or rapidity of motion
A strong current.
Strong
Persuasive, effective, and cogent
A strong argument.
Strong
Forceful and pointed; emphatic
A strong statement.
Strong
Forthright and explicit, often offensively so
Strong language.
Strong
Extreme; drastic
Had to resort to strong measures.
Strong
Having force of conviction or feeling; uncompromising
Strong faith.
A strong supporter.
Strong
Intense in degree or quality
A strong emotion.
Strong motivation.
Strong
Having an intense or offensive effect on the senses
Strong light.
Strong vinegar.
Strong cologne.
Strong
Clear and loud
A strong voice.
Strong
Readily noticeable; remarkable
A strong resemblance.
A strong contrast.
Strong
Readily detected or received
A strong radio signal.
Strong
Having a high concentration of an essential or active ingredient
Mixed a strong solution of bleach and water.
Strong
Containing a considerable percentage of alcohol
Strong punch.
Strong
Powerfully effective
A strong painkiller.
Strong
Of or relating to a color having a high degree of saturation.
Strong
Having a specified number of units or members
A military force 100,000 strong.
Strong
Marked by steady or rising prices
A strong market.
Strong
Of or relating to those verbs in Germanic languages that form their past tense by a change in stem vowel, and their past participles by a change in stem vowel and sometimes by adding the suffix -(e)n, as sing, sang, sung or tear, tore, torn.
Strong
Of or relating to the inflection of nouns or adjectives in Germanic languages with endings that historically did not contain a suffix with an n.
Strong
Stressed or accented in pronunciation or poetic meter. Used of a word or syllable.
Strong
In a strong, powerful, or vigorous manner; forcefully
A salesperson who comes on too strong.
Strong
Capable of producing great physical force.
A big strong man; Jake was tall and strong
Strong
Capable of withstanding great physical force.
A strong foundation; good strong shoes
Strong
(of water, wind, etc.) Having a lot of power.
The man was nearly drowned after a strong undercurrent swept him out to sea.
Strong
Determined; unyielding.
He is strong in the face of adversity.
Strong
Highly stimulating to the senses.
A strong light; a strong taste
Strong
Having an offensive or intense odor or flavor.
A strong smell
Strong
Having a high concentration of an essential or active ingredient.
A strong cup of coffee; a strong medicine
Strong
(specifically) Having a high alcoholic content.
A strong drink
She gets up, and pours herself a strong one. - Eagles, Lying Eyes
Strong
(grammar) Inflecting in a different manner than the one called weak, such as Germanic verbs which change vowels.
A strong verb
Strong
(chemistry) That completely ionizes into anions and cations in a solution.
A strong acid;
A strong base
Strong
(military) Not easily subdued or taken.
A strong position
Strong
Having wealth or resources.
A strong economy
Strong
Impressive, good.
You're working with troubled youth in your off time? That’s strong!
Strong
Having a specified number of people or units.
The enemy's army force was five thousand strong.
Strong
(of a disease or symptom) Severe; very bad or intense.
Strong
Having a wide range of logical consequences; widely applicable. (Often contrasted with a weak statement which it implies.)
Strong
(of an argument) Convincing.
Strong
In a strong manner.
Strong
Having active physical power, or great physical power to act; having a power of exerting great bodily force; vigorous.
That our oxen may be strong to labor.
Orses the strong to greater strength must yield.
Strong
Having passive physical power; having ability to bear or endure; firm; hale; sound; robust; as, a strong constitution; strong health.
Strong
Solid; tough; not easily broken or injured; able to withstand violence; able to sustain attacks; not easily subdued or taken; as, a strong beam; a strong rock; a strong fortress or town.
Strong
Having great military or naval force; powerful; as, a strong army or fleet; a nation strong at sea.
Strong
Having great wealth, means, or resources; as, a strong house, or company of merchants.
Strong
Reaching a certain degree or limit in respect to strength or numbers; as, an army ten thousand strong.
Strong
Moving with rapidity or force; violent; forcible; impetuous; as, a strong current of water or wind; the wind was strong from the northeast; a strong tide.
Strong
Adapted to make a deep or effectual impression on the mind or imagination; striking or superior of the kind; powerful; forcible; cogent; as, a strong argument; strong reasons; strong evidence; a strong example; strong language.
Strong
Ardent; eager; zealous; earnestly engaged; as, a strong partisan; a strong Whig or Tory.
Her mother, ever strong against that match.
Strong
Having virtues of great efficacy; or, having a particular quality in a great degree; as, a strong powder or tincture; a strong decoction; strong tea or coffee.
Strong
Full of spirit; containing a large proportion of alcohol; intoxicating; as, strong liquors.
Strong
Affecting any sense powerfully; as, strong light, colors, etc.; a strong flavor of onions; a strong scent.
Strong
Solid; nourishing; as, strong meat.
Strong
Well established; firm; not easily overthrown or altered; as, a strong custom; a strong belief.
Strong
Violent; vehement; earnest; ardent.
He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears.
Strong
Having great force, vigor, power, or the like, as the mind, intellect, or any faculty; as, a man of a strong mind, memory, judgment, or imagination.
I was stronger in prophecy than in criticism.
Strong
Vigorous; effective; forcible; powerful.
Like her sweet voice is thy harmonious song,As high, as sweet, as easy, and as strong.
Strong
Tending to higher prices; rising; as, a strong market.
Strong
Pertaining to, or designating, a verb which forms its preterit (imperfect) by a variation in the root vowel, and the past participle (usually) by the addition of -en (with or without a change of the root vowel); as in the verbs strive, strove, striven; break, broke, broken; drink, drank, drunk. Opposed to weak, or regular. See Weak.
Strong
Having strength or power greater than average or expected;
A strong radio signal
Strong medicine
A strong man
Strong
Used of syllables or musical beats
Strong
Not faint or feeble;
A strong odor of burning rubber
Strong
Having or wielding force or authority;
Providing the ground soldier with increasingly potent weapons
Strong
Having a strong physiological or chemical effect;
A potent toxin
Potent liquor
A potent cup of tea
Strong
Able to withstand attack;
An impregnable fortress
Fortifications that made the frontier inviolable
Strong
Of good quality and condition; solidly built;
A solid foundation
Several substantial timber buildings
Strong
Of verbs not having standard (or regular) inflection;
`sing' is a strong verb
Strong
Having a high alcoholic content;
Hard liquor
Strong
Freshly made or left;
A warm trail
The scent is warm
Strong
Strong and sure;
A firm grasp
Gave a strong pull on the rope
Common Curiosities
What type of strength does brawny imply?
Brawny specifically implies physical strength and visible muscle mass.
Can a person be strong but not brawny?
Yes, a person can be strong in terms of lifting capacity or mental strength without being brawny.
How is strong defined?
Strong describes the ability to exert force, endure pressure, or the intensity of various qualities.
Is the term strong applicable to emotional traits?
Yes, strong can describe someone with significant emotional resilience or fortitude.
What does brawny mean?
Brawny refers to someone having a muscular and robust physique.
What does brawny not imply?
Brawny does not imply mental strength or emotional depth.
How does strong differ when used about materials?
When referring to materials, strong denotes durability and the ability to withstand stress or force.
How can I use strong in a sentence?
"The strong winds were powerful enough to knock down trees."
What are typical contexts where brawny is used?
Brawny is often used in contexts emphasizing physical labor or roles requiring a formidable physique.
Can strong refer to flavors?
Yes, strong can describe potent or intensely flavored foods and beverages.
Is brawny a common description for women?
It can be, but it is more traditionally associated with describing men.
Is there a gender bias in the use of brawny or strong?
Historically, brawny might be used more often to describe men, while strong is gender-neutral.
What visual does brawny conjure?
Brawny often conjures images of heavily muscled, physically large individuals.
Can strong be a negative?
In some contexts, like flavors or odors, being too strong can be considered negative.
Are strong characters always physically powerful?
Not necessarily; strong characters can also exhibit moral courage or mental resilience.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
