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
Her combination of bravery, rigor, relentlessness, and humanity is almost unique in journalism.
—
The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
Each is fully weather-sealed, includes anti-smudge fluorine on the front glass, and is built to withstand the rigors of regular use outdoors, at wedding receptions, and in the studio.
—Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026
As the fall semester progressed, Fenster grew visibly frustrated with the pace and rigor of the review.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
Hendershot said a slew of clinical trials is already underway to test this theory with more rigor.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rigor
The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
Each is fully weather-sealed, includes anti-smudge fluorine on the front glass, and is built to withstand the rigors of regular use outdoors, at wedding receptions, and in the studio.
—Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026
As the fall semester progressed, Fenster grew visibly frustrated with the pace and rigor of the review.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
Hendershot said a slew of clinical trials is already underway to test this theory with more rigor.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rigor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rigor
Noun
-
Fame does not protect against hardship, and talent does not guarantee stability.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The first five of the district’s 16 financial hardship applications were approved by the state board in February, Keeley said.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Following the tornado watch, the weather service issued several severe thunderstorm warnings Tuesday evening, each varying in timeframe and potential severity.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Their targets appeared overwhelmed by the speed and severity of the offensive.—
Rose Horowitch,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And the motivation of that, deep inside, which seems to be similar (for) a lot of medical examiners, is the idea of accuracy and control over death, knowing why or how.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The most mind-blowing is his accuracy on deep passes.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
A student who has difficulty reading aloud might be asked to read to one of their classmates, for example.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
At the heart of the administration’s internal debate over warning the public as the Iran war continues is the difficulty of remaining transparent while avoiding widespread alarm.—
Shelby Talcott,
semafor.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Estimates suggest that precision agriculture will expand robustly through the latter half of the decade, and individuals guiding this expansion will be in demand.—
Metro Creative Services,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Each arm can rotate different layers of the puzzle with precision.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Since most of us were never taught basic food literacy, there is a gap in knowledge on how to select, prepare, and store ingredients as well as how to think in patterns instead of perfection.—
Michelle Beadle Holder,
SELF,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Add a cherry to the center of each pineapple ring for party perfection.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rigor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rigor. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
