robust

adjective

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

Keep scrolling for more

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

If so, that must be made absolutely clear and there should absolutely be a robust driver monitor system. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, "Elon Musk promises big new Tesla Autopilot upgrade, but is it legal?," 10 Dec. 2018 The state’s Office of Emergency Services’ key focus on managing a robust mutual-aid system among jurisdictions helped reduce losses and ameliorate suffering. — Costas Synolakis, WSJ, "Lessons From the Paradise Fire," 18 Nov. 2018 Some of Bitdefender’s features—particularly Anti-Theft—are more robust than the free ones, but these utilities should not be the deciding factor in purchasing Total Security. — Ian Paul, PCWorld, "Bitdefender Total Security 2019 review: This AV suite builds a better autopilot," 13 Sep. 2018 Even with such a robust cooling system, the solar panels will need to hide from the direct fury of the sun as the spacecraft loops in for its 24 close passes. — Jay Bennett, Popular Mechanics, "The Spacecraft Engineering Required to "Touch the Sun"," 6 Aug. 2018 And the biggest flows of plastic into the oceans are coming not from America, but Southeast Asia and India, where cities don’t have robust trash and recycling systems. — Emily Atkin, The New Republic, "Why Starbucks’ Straw Ban Is an Environmental Milestone," 10 July 2018 On Wednesday, the head of the Utah Transit Authority, told a group of Idaho transit enthusiasts how the Salt Lake Valley built and funded a robust system to alleviate traffic. — Maria L. La Ganga, idahostatesman, "Hey Boise: Salt Lake City has commuter rail, buses people use, and lessons for you," 10 June 2018 That’s why there are no physical bank branches of USAA, but rather a robust system of online and phone services supported by employees all over the country. — Jessica Levy, azcentral, "USAA seeks to hire more IT experts to help deliver top-tier digital services," 14 May 2018 Though the robust national fight for ratification lost steam then, the lasting need for the ERA is clearer now than ever. — Kate Kelly, Teen Vogue, "Why the United States Constitution Needs An Equal Rights Amendment," 29 Oct. 2018

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.