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Synonym Chooser

How is the word robust distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of robust are hale, healthy, sound, well, and wholesome. While all these words mean "enjoying or indicative of good health," robust implies the opposite of all that is delicate or sickly.

a lively, robust little boy

When would hale be a good substitute for robust?

Although the words hale and robust have much in common, hale applies particularly to robustness in old age.

still hale at the age of eighty

When can healthy be used instead of robust?

The meanings of healthy and robust largely overlap; however, healthy implies full strength and vigor as well as freedom from signs of disease.

a healthy family

When is sound a more appropriate choice than robust?

The words sound and robust are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sound emphasizes the absence of disease, weakness, or malfunction.

a sound heart

When is it sensible to use well instead of robust?

In some situations, the words well and robust are roughly equivalent. However, well implies merely freedom from disease or illness.

she has never been a well person

When might wholesome be a better fit than robust?

The words wholesome and robust can be used in similar contexts, but wholesome implies appearance and behavior indicating soundness and balance.

a face with a wholesome glow

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of robust The library has seven physical branches in Bennett, Brighton, Commerce City, Thornton and the Perl Mack neighborhood of Denver, in addition to a robust digital program. Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2025 To be sure, Ortega Pérez has masterminded the repositioning and elevation of the brand from high-street chain to cultural player through a robust collaboration strategy. Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025 Mahama’s installations, which say something about societal deterioration, also dramatize the country’s inability to sustain robust funding in the arts or technology in its postindependence years. Edna Bonhomme, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025 The city is home to a robust ecosystem of producers, service companies and highly skilled professionals, now reinforced by the Madrid Audiovisual Cluster, which fosters public–private collaboration across the sector. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for robust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for robust
Adjective
  • Forest needed competition for Chris Wood, and the 24-year-old fits the bill as a senior Brazil international who has scored at a healthy rate back home.
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Scientists found that the latter combo reduced blood sugar spikes in healthy participants.
    Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Alvarado has become Colombia's most energetic proponent of the technique.
    John Otis, NPR, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Patterson is energetic and fun here.
    Andy Hoglund, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • One way is when iron-rich rock is exposed to high temperatures and acidic conditions, but neither are evident in the area around Cheyava Falls.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The story has too many rich details to be a lie, and Marlon knows something of woe too.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In fact, while vision isn’t their strongest sense, dogs may even be able to see certain aspects of a TV show.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Oct. 2025
  • The young right-hander put together a strong season, but few were better after the All-Star break.
    Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The lone crack in Yesavage’s sturdy exterior came in the first inning.
    Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Tourists are still enjoying Michigan's lineup of dynamic fall events amid Apple Month and Michigan Agritourism Month this October and are flexible to changing fall color patterns, said Nick Nerbonne, media and digital director for Travel Michigan.
    Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Best Mixed Use Magnet Toy The magic of Magna-Tiles meets the thrill of racing with this dynamic expansion pack.
    Emily Glover, Parents, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Theodore and Hanifin are a potent one-two punch.
    Harman Dayal, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The first of these is the 2002 Turbo (expected to sell for between $115,000 to $165,000), a potent two-door that helped BMW realize there was customer interest in higher-trim performance models.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • SanDisk — The maker of solid state drives jumped 10%, adding to its massive gains.
    Fred Imbert, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Chris Copeland, Justin Copeland) Student Shorts With solid storytelling and emerging vision, these films represent a broad range of categories including live-action, narrative, documentary, and animation.
    Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Robust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/robust. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on robust

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