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
Despite being a spindly 180 pounds, he has not been worn down by the rigors of the Big 10 or the NCAA tournament, having scored in double figures in every game since the calendar turned to 2026.
—
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026
The students aren’t asking for less rigor.
—Gerald Bradshaw, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
The parade of styles, of homage and revolt, from the chromatic frenzy of Pollock and de Kooning to the deadpan rigor of Ruscha and Johns, led to the question of Lerner’s formation.
—Giles Harvey, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
His years in engineering gave him fluency in intricate systems; entrepreneurship taught him how to translate that rigor into practical application.
—William Jones, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rigor
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026
The students aren’t asking for less rigor.
—Gerald Bradshaw, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
The parade of styles, of homage and revolt, from the chromatic frenzy of Pollock and de Kooning to the deadpan rigor of Ruscha and Johns, led to the question of Lerner’s formation.
—Giles Harvey, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
His years in engineering gave him fluency in intricate systems; entrepreneurship taught him how to translate that rigor into practical application.
—William Jones, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rigor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rigor
Noun
-
But this short-term hardship exemption would be off the table in Missouri.—
Samantha Liss,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
These early results show that energy insecurity, a hidden hardship defined as the inability to adequately meet household energy needs, affects millions of American households and is worsening quickly.—
Diana Hernández,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
After the flight crew allegedly requested an onboard doctor, a physician-passenger advised that due to the severity of the burns and their proximity to her genitals, AC should be transported to an urgent care facility as soon as possible, the complaint says.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Authorities say the fire caused losses far exceeding $10 million, a key threshold that elevates the severity of the charge, while federal officials estimate total damage at roughly $500 million.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Advanced statistical modeling revealed that a group of six piRNAs alone predicted two‑year survival with accuracy as high as 86%.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Improvements in timing accuracy can also open doors to new science.—
Andrei Derevianko,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
After mixed results from these initial high-profile tastings, many startup companies retreated behind closed doors amid funding difficulties and political pushback from states.—
Jaia Clingham-David,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
15 Apr. 2026
-
On top of physical and mental challenges, Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) can cause behavioral issues like compulsive behaviors and difficulty controlling emotions.—
Sarah Bradley,
Health,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Onstage, her humor hits with precision.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The show ebbed and flowed with precision, with the uptempo jams countered by Mars’ considerable arsenal of ballads.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Clark timed her run to perfection and met the ball at the right time.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Even the porridge has achieved near-mythical status among regulars, finished with brown sugar and cooked to creamy perfection.—
Julie Lin,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rigor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rigor. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
