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
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Recent Examples of rigor
Set against the architectural rigor and historical weight of one of Northern Italy’s most imposing villas, models Arthur Hargous and Svetlana Lethelier appear solo or as a couple sporting key looks of the spring 2026 collection paraded in Paris in October.
—
Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 17 Feb. 2026
This starts with intellectual rigor and time studying the various areas of law the Supreme Court touches.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Feb. 2026
That’s partly owing to the rigor of Schleinzer’s filmmaking, which matches the severity of this world.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Rose is another extraordinary showcase for her gifts and a master class in the art of acting with rigor, honesty, physicality and zero showiness.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rigor
Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 17 Feb. 2026
This starts with intellectual rigor and time studying the various areas of law the Supreme Court touches.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Feb. 2026
That’s partly owing to the rigor of Schleinzer’s filmmaking, which matches the severity of this world.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Rose is another extraordinary showcase for her gifts and a master class in the art of acting with rigor, honesty, physicality and zero showiness.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rigor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rigor
Noun
-
The Dardennes-esque vérité portrait of lives careening from loss and economic hardship won two awards at the Sundance Film Festival that year — including Best Director for Hammer — and received multiple Film Independent Spirit and Gotham award nominations.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The very fact that Macclesfield as a club is even in business is nothing short of miraculous given the financial hardship the 6th-tier club in North-West England has faced over the years.—
Patrick Snell,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Prosecutors in the case recommended the death penalty as punishment for Yoon, given the severity of his crimes.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The severity of this person's injuries was not known.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The National Park Service routinely updates exhibits across the park system to ensure historical accuracy and completeness.—
Laura Fay,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
This requires clinicians to evaluate for accuracy and voice—patients like hearing back from their clinician in their own voice.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Symptoms include loss of balance, difficulty walking or swallowing, slurred speech and problems with eye movements, according to the National Institutes of Health.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
17 Feb. 2026
-
In terms of economics and investments, the Saudis are having difficulties in attracting foreign investment.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Claimed to be an all-weather solution, the system provides precision, even in limited visibility scenarios.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Feb. 2026
-
With a style that requires high precision and ruthlessness in front of goal, Villa’s cautiousness was only magnified.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Finally, a drizzling of white icing brings everything to tasty perfection.—
Molly Burford,
Southern Living,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The point is consistency, not perfection.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rigor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rigor. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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