robust

adjective ro·bust \ rō-ˈbəst , ˈrō-(ˌ)bəst \

Definition of robust

1 a :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 3

—

robustly

adverb

—

robustness

play \-ˈbəs(t)-nəs, -(ˌ)bəs(t)-\ noun

See robust defined for English-language learners

See robust defined for kids

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 of robust from the Web

That hasn't been a big issue so far, thanks to investors' willingness to accept scant profits in exchange for robust subscriber growth.

— michael liedtke, courant.com, "Netflix is Piling Up Both Viewers and Programming Bills," 18 July 2017
That has made coverage more robust, but it's also raised premiums for relatively healthy people.

— ricardo alonso-zaldivar, chicagotribune.com, "Senate consumer choice idea could raise premiums for sick," 12 July 2017
Jessica Renslow can remember growing up in the Miller section of Gary when Lake Street businneses were thriving and the community was more robust.

— javonte anderson, Post-Tribune, "Local group makes strides in Miller," 11 July 2017
During a national security panel at last week's Aspen Idea Festival, retired general David Petraeus offered what the panel's host labeled perhaps the most robust defense of the Trump administration's foreign policy yet.

— aaron blake, Washington Post, "David Petraeus’s damning nonresponse on Trump’s fitness to serve," 5 July 2017
Madison remains robust today, with one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the country.

— gregg doyel, The Courier-Journal, "Doyel: Can a dead man save the Madison Regatta?," 28 June 2017
However, the craft's solar panels will be the more exposed and require a robust cooling system.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "The Robust Cooling System of a NASA Spacecraft Flying Into the Sun's Atmosphere," 27 June 2017
Whereas many musicians stream live via cellphones and spotty connections, Chatel can broadcast superb, professionally mixed audio via the studio's robust broadband connection, ensuring maximum quality.

— michael dumas, AL.com, "Soundworks: At venerable recording studio, the ideas are cutting-edge," 25 June 2017
The salary cap, which is expected to top $100 million in 2017-18 for the first time in league history, is so robust that almost anything can happen.

— jerry brewer, chicagotribune.com, "The NBA offseason is already more compelling than the 2016-17 season," 21 June 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of robust

Latin robustus oaken, strong, from robor-, robur oak, strength

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First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

robust Synonyms

Synonyms

able-bodied, bouncing, fit, hale, hearty, healthy, sound, well, well-conditioned, whole, wholesome

Antonyms

ailing, diseased, ill, sick, unfit, unhealthy, unsound, unwell

Related Words

hard, hardy, iron, lusty, rugged, stalwart, strong, sturdy, tough; ambulatory, nondisabled, uncrippled; active, agile, chipper, lively, sprightful, sprightly, spry, vigorous, vital; blooming, clean-cut, flourishing, flush, prospering, thriving; all right, good, right

Near Antonyms

decrepit, enfeebled, feeble, infirm, run-down, sickened, sickly, weak, weakened, weakly, worn-out; challenged, crippled, debilitated, differently abled, disabled, halt, incapacitated, lame; delicate, fragile, frail; emaciated, gaunt, haggard, malnourished, undernourished; afflicted, troubled; bad, poorly

Synonym Discussion of 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

ROBUST Defined for English Language Learners

robust

adjective

Definition of robust for English Language Learners

: strong and healthy
: strongly formed or built
: successful or impressive and not likely to fail or weaken

ROBUST Defined for Kids

robust

adjective ro·bust \ rō-ˈbəst \

Definition of robust for Students

:strong and healthy

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robustly

adverb

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