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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 law established robust incentives for clean energy, including tax credits for stand-alone grid energy projects. Umair Irfan, Wired News, 26 Apr. 2025 This model is rated for 440 lb (~200 kg) maximum payload capacity, and features a robust rear rack for hauling cargo from A to B or allowing the rider to offer a lift home to a friend. New Atlas, 25 Apr. 2025 The audio quality is equally impressive with two 8-watt speakers that can easily fill a large family room with robust sound. Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 25 Apr. 2025 Developing robust risk management strategies is not about paranoia but preparedness. Jim Stevenson, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for robust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for robust
Adjective
  • The Seeding Square is a sturdy plastic template that helps properly space seeds and seedlings for healthy plants and bountiful harvests.
    Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Apr. 2025
  • As a reliever who started the season healthy, Minter might not need that much time to build up.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The energy rises as the wrestler and the rapper take energetic strides and bounce to the ring.
    Shaheem Reid, Variety, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Our sun cycles through its pattern of energetic activity every 11 years, but the technology scientists use to observe is advancing at a faster pace.
    Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The main living areas are located on the ground and second floors, offering expansive reception rooms, intricate plasterwork, and rich period details that have been carefully restored and elevated under Kime’s discerning eye and commitment to authenticity.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Video Other rich countries have not filled the gap.
    Declan Walsh, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.
    Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023
  • This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.
    National Geographic, National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023
Adjective
  • Get to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
  • It’s entirely made of cotton that has been coated with polyvinyl to create a sturdy material with the look of pebbled leather, which is as water-resistant and stain-repellent as hide.
    Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • How will 8 new coaches fare? WNBA to broadcast 4 preseason games nationally for first time as league dynamic changes What to watch in sports this week: Playoffs, Champions League semis and 151st Kentucky Derby James Boyd is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Indianapolis Colts.
    James Boyd, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
  • This is all part of their mission to make digital mindfulness and wellness accessible to as many people as possible through dynamic content and interactive experiences.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The late-April glut of convenings this year has had an especially potent effect of magnifying the latest news cycles emanating from Donald Trump’s chaotic White House: Will the President fire Jerome Powell?
    Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2025
  • He’s been their most potent asset since the international break, with two goals and one assist.
    Holly Shand, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Chemicals at the port were suspected to have fueled the explosion, but the exact cause was not clear and Iran's Defence Ministry denied international media reports that the blast may be linked to the mishandling of solid fuel used for missiles.
    USA Today, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
  • For those looking to scale, focus on building a solid client base, continually reinvest in quality leads, and consider eventually expanding by hiring or mentoring other agents to grow your business.
    David Price, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Robust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/robust. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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