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

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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

Try a flute with a champagne with a more robust nose, or use them to build your champagne cocktails (more on those below). — Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, "Everything You Need to Know About Brut Champagne," 21 Dec. 2018 Acoustic sensors are becoming more robust, too, allowing conservationists to eavesdrop remotely. — Helena Pozniak, Popular Mechanics, "The Technology That Will Finally Stop Poachers," 26 Nov. 2018 These technologies are still in the early stages and are likely to get more robust with time as advertisers connect more datasets, increasingly linking locations with behaviors, like purchases or tweets. — Rani Molla, Recode, "Billboards — yes, billboards — are having a heyday in a digital world," 25 Sep. 2018 Also helping battery life is a more robust set of background restrictions. — Michael Simon, PCWorld, "Android 9 Pie is here: What's new, what's awesome, and how to get it now," 6 Aug. 2018 Now the Fed thinks the economy is robust enough to absorb the double monetary whammy of higher interest rates and QT. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Powell to Markets: Take That," 19 Dec. 2018 In late June, Jasper and his colleagues visited FCC commissioners to argue that competition is not yet nearly robust enough to cut off the CLECs. — Michael Hiltzik, latimes.com, "Sonic is a small ISP that competes brilliantly with the big guys — so they're trying to throttle its business," 5 July 2018 In much of North and South America and Europe, that means oak — a clean, hot-burning wood with a smoke that’s robust enough to stand up to red meat, yet mild enough not to overpower poultry or seafood. — Steven Raichlen, New York Times, "Grilling Turns Back to an Ancient Fuel: Wood," 29 June 2018 More Economic News Both spending and income grew at a robust rate in October, so some slowdown was expected. — Eric Morath, WSJ, "U.S. Consumer Spending Rose at Solid Rate in November," 21 Dec. 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.