vigor

noun

vig·​or ˈvi-gər How to pronounce vigor (audio)
Synonyms of vigornext
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Your vigor is a gift, yet pacing yourself ensures consistency and keeps your focus strong beyond a single push toward completion. Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026 Whether a vine growing up a tree is harmful or not will depend on the vigor of the vine and the size of the tree. Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026 My intention was to get back the optimism and vigor students had always given me in times past—to get back home. CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026 The mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves directed the show with an eye toward brilliance of color and vigor of movement; Viviana Goodwin and Justin Austin led a spirited cast, with Kedrick Armstrong conducting and Damien Sneed handling the arrangements. Alex Ross, New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vigor

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of vigor was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vigor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vigor. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

vigor

noun
vig·​or ˈvig-ər How to pronounce vigor (audio)
1
: active strength or energy of body or mind
2
: active strength or force

Medical Definition

vigor

variants or chiefly British vigour

More from Merriam-Webster on vigor

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster