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

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web Haas team principal Gunther Steiner was more robust in his push-back Thursday. — Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 7 May 2022 Notwithstanding Netflix’s slowdown, overall growth in streaming continues to be robust. — Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2022 His tank took a direct hit, but was robust enough to escape and rescue another crew whose tank was wrecked. — Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 May 2022 Growth in the hospital and insurance industries over the past decade, meanwhile, has been robust: Annual hospital spending increased 57% over that span, according to government statistics. — Erika Fry, Fortune, 4 May 2022 Attendance at the program is robust, with most players attending. — cleveland, 3 May 2022 Forests with smaller trees, and those lacking the diversity provided by unevenly aged trees, are generally a lot less robust. — Kurtis Alexander, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 Apr. 2022 Poland's central government insists its response has been robust. — Lauren Egan, NBC News, 30 Apr. 2022 Precipitation amounts will be fairly robust with this system. — oregonlive, 28 Apr. 2022 See More

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.