strenuous

adjective

stren·​u·​ous ˈstren-yə-wəs 

1

a

: vigorously active : energetic

Avoid strenuous exercise until the sprain heals.

b

: fervent, zealous

his most strenuous supporters

2

: marked by or calling for energy or stamina : arduous

a strenuous hike

strenuosity

ˌstren-yə-ˈwä-sə-tē 

noun

strenuously

ˈstren-yə-wəs-lē 

adverb

strenuousness noun

Synonyms of strenuous

• vigorous
• aggressive
• violent
• emphatic

Choose the Right Synonym for strenuous

vigorous, energetic, strenuous, lusty, nervous mean having or showing great vitality and force.

vigorous further implies showing no signs of depletion or diminishing of freshness or robustness.

as vigorous as a youth half his age

energetic suggests a capacity for intense activity.

an energetic campaigner

strenuous suggests a preference for coping with the arduous or the challenging.

the strenuous life on an oil rig

lusty implies exuberant energy and capacity for enjoyment.

a lusty appetite for life

nervous suggests especially the forcibleness and sustained effectiveness resulting from mental vigor.

full of nervous energy

Examples of strenuous in a Sentence

Avoid all strenuous exercise until the sprain heals.

Today has been a very strenuous day.

The proposal has faced strenuous opposition.

Recent Examples on the Web

The hot conditions may be dangerous for anyone working or performing strenuous outdoor activities without proper hydration and frequent breaks in the shade or air conditioning, the weather service warned. —Michelle Cruz, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026

And while not nearly as long or strenuous as the Grand Canyon, this hike packs nearly as much adrenaline through route-finding, scrambles, and boulder-hopping. —Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026

In the years that followed, taking the stage became an increasingly strenuous act for the artist as her struggles with stiff-person syndrome surfaced new complications. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2026

One critique that popped up around One Battle had to do with the campaign’s strenuous avoidance of saying anything political. —Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin strenuus

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for strenuous

• disingenuous
• ingenuous

Kids Definition

strenuous

adjective

stren·​u·​ous ˈstren-yə-wəs 

1

a

: very active : energetic

leads a strenuous life

b

: fervent, zealous

strenuous protest

2

: showing or requiring great energy

strenuous tasks

strenuously adverb