unmuscular build
- noun
- Despite his unmuscular build, he excelled in long-distance swimming.
Examples
-
Many people with an unmuscular build prefer yoga over weightlifting.
-
People with an unmuscular build may find some sports more challenging.
-
She was proud of her achievements regardless of her unmuscular build.
-
He has an unmuscular build that makes him look less athletic.
-
Many athletes with an unmuscular build find success in endurance sports.
-
His unmuscular build did not deter him from participating in various physical activities.
-
She often felt self-conscious about her unmuscular build when comparing herself to bodybuilders.
Antonyms
How Muscular
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is fully compositional: 'unmuscular' ( lacking muscle / not muscular ) modifies 'build' (body shape), so the meaning 'a body type that lacks muscle mass' is directly derivable from the parts. This follows standard English negative-prefix + adjective + noun composition and is cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should understand it.
Etymology
Unmuscular build comes from the parts unmuscular (meaning 'not muscular') and build (meaning the body's shape). It creates the image of a body without obvious muscles, so it means 'a body that lacks muscle'.