vigor

noun

vig·​or ˈvi-gər 

1

: active bodily or mental strength or force

2

: active healthy well-balanced growth especially of plants

3

: intensity of action or effect : force

4

: effective legal status

Synonyms

• beans
• bounce
• brio
• dash
• drive
• dynamism
• energy
• esprit
• gas
• get-up-and-go
• ginger
• go
• gusto
• hardihood
• juice
• life
• moxie
• oomph
• pep
• punch
• sap
• snap
• starch
• verve
• vim
• vinegar
• vitality
• zing
• zip

Examples of vigor in a Sentence

She defended her beliefs with great vigor.

she was picked to lead the volunteer group because of her vigor and enthusiasm

Recent Examples on the Web

The elderly Zhou Enlai, China’s prime minister for much of the Cold War, held numerous meetings with foreign partners that showcased his vigor and intellectual sharpness. —Joshua Byun, Foreign Affairs, 18 July 2024

An equally compelling argument can be made that anyone who carries out a president’s orders must be cloaked in the same immunity lest the president’s energy, vigor, decisiveness and speed extend only as far as the Oval Office door. —Andrew Turley, Sun Sentinel, 16 July 2024

Overshadowed by the wonderings about President Biden’s vigor was the actual purpose of the NATO alliance’s 75th anniversary summit in Washington last week. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 14 July 2024

Americans have always owned guns and used them to project strength and vigor—think of the gun-slinging cowboy or the gun-carrying lawman immortalized in Hollywood. —Jeremi Suri, TIME, 14 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English vigour, from Anglo-French, from Latin vigor, from vigēre to be vigorous

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing vigor

• hybrid vigor
• vim and vigor

Kids Definition

vigor

noun

vig·​or ˈvig-ər 

1

: active strength or energy of body or mind

2

: active strength or force

Medical Definition

vigor

variants or chiefly British vigour

see hybrid vigor