rigor

noun

rig·or | \ ˈri-gər

Definition of rigor

1a(1) : harsh inflexibility in opinion, temper, or judgment : severity The least one might observe is that this muddle of moralism and laxity, extreme rigor and casual permissiveness, arduous altruism and nonchalant selfishness, has consequences.— Peter Berkowitz

(2) : the quality of being unyielding or inflexible : strictness Their abandonment of this terminology is part of an effort to soften the rigor of some of the rigid consequences thought to flow from the mechanical application of this dichotomy.— John D. Calamari and Joseph M. Perillo

(3) : severity of life : austerity … a moral rigor and growth that might help this country.— Stanley Kauffmann

b : an act or instance of strictness, severity, or cruelty … the humanist must recognize the normality, the practical necessity of the very rigors he is trying to soften and correct.— Hermann J. Muller

2 : a tremor caused by a chill This young woman presented at the hospital with severe abdominal pain and signs of infection, including fever, rigor, and leukocytosis.— Robert E. Scully et al.

3 : a condition that makes life difficult, challenging, or uncomfortable especially : extremity of cold the rigors of a New England winter

4 : strict precision : exactness logical rigor Tentatively one might suggest that what characterizes science is the rigor of its methodology …— Ernst Mayr

5a obsolete : rigidity, stiffness

b : rigidness or torpor of organs or tissue that prevents response to stimuli

c : rigor mortis A fish has its best flavor and texture when cooked while just coming out of rigor.— Jane Daniels Lear

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about rigor

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of rigor in a Sentence

They underwent the rigors of military training. the rigors of life in the wilderness They conducted the experiments with scientific rigor. a scholar known for her intellectual rigor

Recent Examples on the Web

Still, sports of all strokes remain a central tenet of his brand—and not just because the designer feels an affinity to the rigor, unity, and strength that sports require. — Steff Yotka, Vogue, "Thom Browne’s New Golf Capsule Collection Is a Stroke Above the Rest," 30 Oct. 2018 After graduating from a specialized unit in boot camp, recruits undergo a nine-week preparatory course that exposes them to the rigors of their career fields, everything from underwater swimming and mask and snorkel recovery to 5-mile runs. — Sig Christenson, San Antonio Express-News, "AF recruiting squadron to seek — and keep — toughest airmen," 30 June 2018 The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is one of the few groups to have been doing this with some rigor. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, "Consumer Reports agrees with Ars: GM Super Cruise beats Tesla Autopilot," 4 Oct. 2018 There are many efforts underway to replicate (exactly or conceptually) research findings with rigor. — Brian Resnick, Vox, "A top Cornell food researcher has had 13 studies retracted. That’s a lot.," 19 Sep. 2018 To train, teammates have been riding 200 to 300 miles a week, though there’s virtually no way to prepare for the rigors of the road. — Pam Kragen, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Blind cycling team to ride across country," 16 June 2018 More accustomed to the rigors of warfare, the woman, who spent seven years fighting with the militant Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) after signing up as a teenager, had no interest in sewing. — Holly Robertson, Washington Post, "From soldiers to housewives: Women who fought as Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka are forced into traditional roles," 7 June 2018 Both signed incoming freshmen are seemingly battle-tested for the rigors of college football based on the gauntlet GCL-South teams typically play. — Scott Springer, Cincinnati.com, "Rivals Bacevich of St. Xavier, Whyle of La Salle ready to rally together on UC football team," 13 Apr. 2018 But the Wildcats also use redshirting like college football teams do, to better prepare players for the rigors of the college game. — Rachel Bachman, WSJ, "Villanova’s Steak Dynasty Built With PBJ Players," 3 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rigor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.