vigorous

adjective

vig·​or·​ous ˈvi-g(ə-)rəs 

1

: done with vigor : carried out forcefully and energetically

vigorous exercises

2

: possessing vigor : full of physical or mental strength or active force : strong

a vigorous youth

a vigorous plant

vigorousness noun

Synonyms of vigorous

• energetic
• robust
• dynamic
• lively

Choose the Right Synonym for vigorous

vigorous, energetic, strenuous, lusty, nervous mean having or showing great vitality and force.

vigorous further implies showing no signs of depletion or diminishing of freshness or robustness.

as vigorous as a youth half his age

energetic suggests a capacity for intense activity.

an energetic campaigner

strenuous suggests a preference for coping with the arduous or the challenging.

the strenuous life on an oil rig

lusty implies exuberant energy and capacity for enjoyment.

a lusty appetite for life

nervous suggests especially the forcibleness and sustained effectiveness resulting from mental vigor.

full of nervous energy

Examples of vigorous in a Sentence

She remained vigorous into her nineties.

His speech was met with vigorous applause.

She gave a vigorous defense of her beliefs.

Recent Examples on the Web

This vigorous vine damages masonry and causes tree branches to break under its weight. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Dec. 2025

Opposition to slavery was both widespread and constant across west African territories, from the earliest days of Atlantic slavery, as with the São Tomé rebellion and Lourenio da Silva Mendonia’s vigorous appeal against human bondage to the Vatican, all the way through to the nineteenth century. —Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025

The new normal for the vaccine advisory committee appears to be the appearance of vigorous scientific debate in which the experts are either not consulted or simply disregarded. —Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 5 Dec. 2025

Alongside the helium, the JWST detected water vapor high in the atmosphere but no methane, suggesting vigorous mixing that brings hotter, methane-poor gas upward. —Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 3 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English vigorous, vigrous, from Anglo-French, from vigour

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for vigorous

• rigorous

Kids Definition

vigorous

adjective

vig·​or·​ous ˈvig-(ə-)rəs 

1

: having vigor : robust

vigorous youth

a vigorous plant

2

: done with force and energy

a vigorous protest

vigorously adverb

vigorousness noun