1
as in hardship
something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal
hard-bitten folk who survived many rigors on the way to the promised land
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in severity
the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism)
after being coddled by his former coach, the swimmer was shocked by the rigor of the new training program
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in accuracy
the quality or state of being very accurate
said that she had heard that excuse a million times, but then she was never known for the rigor of her calculations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 rigor
Meanwhile, opponents of book limitations argue that restrictions harm intellectual rigor, stifle curiosity and impose certain views on others who may not hold them.
—
Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Cope is woefully unprepared for the physical rigor of boot camp, but fully invested in making it to graduation.
—Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2025
Swift thrives within a rubric of structure and rigor.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
In fact, the device is built to withstand humidity, wind, temperature variations and the rigors of frequent transport.
—New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rigor
Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Cope is woefully unprepared for the physical rigor of boot camp, but fully invested in making it to graduation.
—Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2025
Swift thrives within a rubric of structure and rigor.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
In fact, the device is built to withstand humidity, wind, temperature variations and the rigors of frequent transport.
—New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rigor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rigor
Noun
-
In times of emergency or hardship, the Team Member Assistance Fund provides financial relief.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Fortune,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Locke’s intimate storytelling captures the richness of culture, memory, and the power of relationships that anchor us through hardship.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Essence,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Depending on the severity of Jackson's injury and the struggles of Rush, the Ravens may need to do something similar to bring in a backup that can string together wins while Lamar heals.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
-
People charged with a crime in Indiana are randomly assigned to judges depending on the severity of the charge, and the initial judge's courtroom doesn't handle major felonies.—
Ryan Murphy,
IndyStar,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Results will show whether the tool improves the accuracy of the reading, Lee said — as well as whether the radiologist tends to let AI scores trump their own expertise.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Richardson was the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft but came into the season as the Colts’ backup quarterback after struggling with injuries and accuracy in his first two seasons in the league.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Flip invented the Wheezer Scale for gauging the difficulty of hiking up hills.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Citing financial difficulties and a new business action plan, the IDS reduced its print production last January to seven times per semester.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
At just 17 years old at the time, Irwin delivered a standout season marked by emotional storytelling and technical precision.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Scent preferences are personal, and today’s perfumers approach candle compositions with the same artistry and precision as fine colognes, treating them as another olfactory canvas to paint on.—
Michael Stefanov,
Robb Report,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
If the Dodgers didn't run the wheel play to perfection, the Phillies easily could have had the tying run 90 feet away with nobody out.—
Noah Camras,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
-
If their performance against Union Saint-Gilloise did not brush perfection, the result came pretty close.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rigor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rigor. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share