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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 leader of the opposition, positioned to be the likely successor in the next free general election, has confirmed that the same message resonates with his party, as the interest in a long-term, robust Dominican-American relationship transcends party lines. Alberto Piantini, Boston Herald, 15 Oct. 2025 Goldman Sachs delivered robust earnings for the third quarter of 2025, posting numbers that exceeded analyst expectations and reflected a sharp recovery in capital markets activity, investment banking, and wealth management. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025 The main difference between the two is that men’s robes generally have a more robust design and fall to the midcalf or ankle, while the length of women’s robes can range from the thigh down to the ankle. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 14 Oct. 2025 Switching between driving, walking, biking and transit is straightforward, and the search functionality is robust, often displaying detailed business profiles, ratings, and hours of operation. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for robust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for robust
Adjective
  • Use a simple ratio of 1 cup of fruit, 1 cup of greens, a source of protein, and healthy fat to create a satiating, balanced result.
    Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Thanks to her success, the celebrity chef has also been sharing her healthy recipes on social media and her Chloë’s Kitchen food blog.
    Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Barley the energetic pup has spent nearly 300 days waiting for a second chance in Florida.
    Simone Jasper, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The energetic Fleck has taken Minnesota to a bowl game in every non-COVID season after his first year and posted a top-10 finish in 2019.
    Chris Vannini, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The thrill of the unexplained is what prompts so many to take ghost tours, which often tell juicy and sometimes goosebump-inducing stories that give historic sites a richer context.
    Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The upper of the shoes is made from a rich suede in a burgundy wine color, which adds texture to the heels and serves as the backdrop for the colorful beaded spikes.
    Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Politically, the affluence manifested in Long Island establishing itself as a bastion of the Republican Party, showing strong support for Hoover in his doomed Presidential campaign against Roosevelt.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Since Xi Jinping assumed power in 2012, Chinese stories have increasingly included nods to Chinese nationalist (not just communist) soldiers fighting bravely, thus placing a strong, victorious, and morally righteous China at the forefront of the postwar global order.
    Big Think, Big Think, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Any question which of those teams has a stout and sturdy offensive line?
    Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025
  • If possible, drive to a nearby sturdy building.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • For parents and leaders, the CLA is a framework that explains how dynamic systems (like people) work.
    Joe Boylan, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • But much of his story focuses on Spears and their tumultuous romance, from the whirlwind of attention to their inevitably contentious dynamic.
    Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The actor had previously met success with the first film in Netflix's The Kissing Booth series, but his searing performance as the nervy, brooding jock Nate Jacobs was among the most potent features that made Euphoria a water cooler hit.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Due to its higher caffeine content, matcha offers a more potent natural energy boost than green tea.
    Jillian Kubala, Health, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Its ready-to-wear and accessories division has also proved a solid earner, with sales rising 6 percent in the first half, helping the company outperform its sector peers.
    Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025
  • That’s solid growth, which has been reflected in the uptick in the rights fee cost through the years.
    Luke Smith, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Robust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/robust. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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