1
as in strict
not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards
rigid enforcement of drug laws
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tough
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
a rigid man who cannot seem to relax
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3
as in hard
having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure
rigid steel bars that should be able to hold the weight
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4
as in stiff
incapable of or highly resistant to bending
corsets, those rigid undergarments for women, must have been murder to wear
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5
as in tight
stretched with little or no give
make sure that the clothesline is rigid so that the longer garments don't drag on the ground
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rigid
Afrikaners formed a rigid ethnic identity after settling in South Africa in the mid-1600s.
—
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 14 May 2025
How much of our rigid thinking is just about our fear of uncertainty?
—Sean Illing, Vox, 12 May 2025
My ribs felt as though every one had been broken, and my left hand was swollen until the fingers were rigid.
—Cyril E. Holland, Outdoor Life, 8 May 2025
Her resistance to rigid punctuation or academic language reflects a broader skepticism about power and interpretation.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rigid
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 14 May 2025
How much of our rigid thinking is just about our fear of uncertainty?
—Sean Illing, Vox, 12 May 2025
My ribs felt as though every one had been broken, and my left hand was swollen until the fingers were rigid.
—Cyril E. Holland, Outdoor Life, 8 May 2025
Her resistance to rigid punctuation or academic language reflects a broader skepticism about power and interpretation.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rigid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rigid
Adjective
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By pinpointing high-privilege users and monitoring data-sharing behaviors, Reco assists CISOs in implementing stricter access controls.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
13 May 2025
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For many kids, this is about just expressing themselves, rather than strict communication, Estevez says.—
Wendy Wisner,
Parents,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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But his sharpness increased as the tournament progressed, especially in the semi-final against his toughest opponent on paper, Stephen Nedoroscik.—
Conor O'Neill,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
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Dodging tough questions without seeming a bit evasive.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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Sandoval has received some pay bumps, including a temporary $10,000-a-year bonus for Hawaii special education teachers designed to alleviate shortages in that and other hard-to-staff areas.—
Alia Wong,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2023
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Whether those numbers are an overstatement, or possibly an understatement, is hard to say.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
13 Feb. 2023
Adjective
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Also left behind: the Beaver State’s colder weather and stiff personal income tax.—
William P. Barrett,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
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That caused the committee to reconsider and support the stiffer penalty of expulsion, Goldsmith alleged.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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Construction budgets will also increase if tighter immigration policies result in labor shortages.—
Ted Reed,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2025
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And don’t even think about trying to change clothes in a tight plane bathroom.—
Rylee Johnston,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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Digital forensics demands rigorous methodology to ensure evidence integrity and reliable findings.—
Lars Daniel,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
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Members have included figures such as Benjamin Franklin, Charles Darwin and Martin Luther King Jr. New members are chosen through a rigorous nomination and election process, according to the academy.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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From 2019 to 2020, the authoritarian petrostate paid $115,000 a month to now–Attorney General Pam Bondi and her firm to lobby on its behalf.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2025
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The congressman sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, accusing him of prioritizing personal spectacle and showing admiration for authoritarian leaders.—
Heather Hunter,
The Washington Examiner,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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Vanney started with a back five defensive shape in an effort to give his team a solid base to play from and clog the midfield.—
Felipe Cardenas,
New York Times,
11 May 2025
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Alternatively, wear them with a solid, black button-down shirt for a business lunch or dinner.—
Robin Raven,
Travel + Leisure,
11 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rigid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rigid. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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