robust

adjective

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ro·bust | \ rō-ˈbəst

, ˈrō-(ˌ)bəst \

Definition of robust

1a : having or exhibiting strength or vigorous health

b : having or showing vigor, strength, or firmness a robust debate a robust faith

c : strongly formed or constructed : sturdy a robust plastic

d : capable of performing without failure under a wide range of conditions robust software

2 : rough, rude stories … laden with robust, down-home imagery — Playboy

3 : requiring strength or vigor robust work

4 : full-bodied robust coffee also : hearty a robust dinner

5 : relating to, resembling, or being a specialized group of australopithecines characterized especially by heavy molars and small incisors adapted to a vegetarian diet

Note: Robust australopithecines are included in the genus Australopithecus along with gracile forms or placed in the separate genus Paranthropus.

— compare gracile sense 3

Other Words from robust Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about robust

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Choose the Right Synonym for robust

healthy, sound, wholesome, robust, hale, well mean enjoying or indicative of good health. healthy implies full strength and vigor as well as freedom from signs of disease. a healthy family sound emphasizes the absence of disease, weakness, or malfunction. a sound heart wholesome implies appearance and behavior indicating soundness and balance. a face with a wholesome glow robust implies the opposite of all that is delicate or sickly. a lively, robust little boy hale applies particularly to robustness in old age. still hale at the age of eighty well implies merely freedom from disease or illness. she has never been a well person

Examples of robust in a Sentence

If Singapore, just seven miles to the north with its glittering skyline and robust economy, is Southeast Asia's Cinderella, Batam is her dark sister. — Peter Gwin, National Geographic, October 2007 The greatest gains in mine mechanization came in a burst of innovation following World War II, when robust new machines were developed … — Robert L. Marovelli, Scientific American, September 1982 Humfry was a man whom everyone noticed. His stature was above ordinary, his complexion sanguine, his conversation lively, and his constitution robust. — Samuel Eliot Morison, The European Discovery of America, 1971 Why is almost every robust healthy boy with a robust healthy soul in him, at some time or other crazy to go to sea? — Herman Melville, Moby Dick, 1851 robust young men and women He is in robust health. The sauce has a robust flavor.

Recent Examples on the Web The July-September period was particularly robust, with PC shipments in the U.S. surging 11% from the same time in 2019 — the industry's biggest quarterly sales increase in a decade, according to the research firm Gartner. — CBS News, "A look back at the big wins and fails in technology in 2020," 1 Jan. 2021 Bombay's ice trade with the U.S. was robust and continued through much of the 19th century, when, during the American Civil War, Indian cotton was used to fill the empty ice ships returning home. — Tulasi Srinivas, CNN, "The 'clink clink" of your New Year's Eve toast has an icy backstory," 31 Dec. 2020 With three teams — the Falcons, Texans and Lions — finishing the current season with interim coaches, the upcoming hiring cycle is expected to be robust. — Jarrett Bell, USA Today, "Eric Bieniemy is ready to be a head coach. Which NFL team will finally take him?," 30 Dec. 2020 Bombay’s ice trade with the U.S. was robust and continued through much of the 19th century, when, during the American Civil War, Indian cotton was used to fill the empty ice ships returning home. — Tulasi Srinivas, The Conversation, "The icy backstory to that ‘clink clink’ you’ll hear when raising a toast to the end of 2020," 23 Dec. 2020 Efforts to keep the virus out of Antarctica have been robust, as leaders have feared an outbreak could be devastating in the remote region where people shelter from the elements in close quarters and medical capabilities are limited. — Joel Shannon, USA TODAY, "With reports of first cases in Antarctica, COVID-19 has now infected every continent," 22 Dec. 2020 The market is expected to be more robust next summer, when as many as half the teams in the league project to have cap space to spend, adding a layer of risk to allowing White to test it. — Jeff Mcdonald, ExpressNews.com, "Spurs want Derrick White for the long haul," 20 Dec. 2020 Not only would such a study provide more robust evidence that seizure forecasting is indeed feasible, researchers would also be able to assess how participants actually use this information. — Diana Kwon, Scientific American, "Forecasts of Epilepsy Seizures Could Become a Reality," 18 Dec. 2020 Congressional oversight should be robust in any administration, of course. — Fred Lucas, National Review, "History’s Weakest Impeachment: The Trump Case, One Year Later," 18 Dec. 2020

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