vigor

noun

vig·​or ˈvi-gər 

1

: active bodily or mental strength or force

2

: active healthy well-balanced growth especially of plants

3

: intensity of action or effect : force

4

: effective legal status

Synonyms

• beans
• bounce
• brio
• dash
• drive
• dynamism
• energy
• esprit
• gas
• get-up-and-go
• ginger
• go
• gusto
• hardihood
• juice
• life
• moxie
• oomph
• pep
• punch
• sap
• snap
• starch
• verve
• vim
• vinegar
• vitality
• zing
• zip

Examples of vigor in a Sentence

She defended her beliefs with great vigor.

she was picked to lead the volunteer group because of her vigor and enthusiasm

Recent Examples on the Web

Afterward, renowned Chinese pianist Lang Lang—who’s on speed dial to perform for everyone from Pharrell to the Pope and Presidents worldwide—mastered Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with spine-tingling vigor. —Freya Drohan, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2024

Rather than succumb to the illness, Wendi faced her illness with strength and vigor. —Dan Freedman, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024

The constraint provided by its premise gives the film a vigor and life lacking in most horror films set online (and even many found footage thrillers). —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 13 Sep. 2024

His jovial vigor is more often crudely gendered and sexualized, sometimes physically. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English vigour, from Anglo-French, from Latin vigor, from vigēre to be vigorous

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing vigor

• hybrid vigor
• vim and vigor

Kids Definition

vigor

noun

vig·​or ˈvig-ər 

1

: active strength or energy of body or mind

2

: active strength or force

Medical Definition

vigor

variants or chiefly British vigour

see hybrid vigor