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rigorous

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of rigorous

1 given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
  • a rigorous football coach who pushes his players to their physical and mental limits
Synonyms of rigorous

austere, authoritarian, flinty, hard, harsh, heavy-handed, ramrod, rigid, severe, stern, strict, tough
Words Related to rigorous

demanding, exacting

uncharitable, unforgiving

adamant, callous, hardened, hard-hearted, hard-line, immovable, implacable, inflexible, merciless, pitiless, relentless, rock-ribbed, stiff, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unsparing, unyielding

dour, gruff

ascetic (also ascetical), monastic, monkish

browbeating, bullying
Near Antonyms of rigorous

easy, easygoing, laid-back, undemanding

charitable, kind, merciful, mild, patient, soft, softhearted

accepting, compromising, yielding

responsive, willing

acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, complaisant, compliant, flexible, pliable, pliant
Antonyms of rigorous

clement, forbearing, gentle, indulgent, lax, lenient, tolerant
2 meeting the highest standard of accuracy
  • a rigorous analysis of the data
Synonyms of rigorous

accurate, close, delicate, exact, fine, hairline, mathematical, pinpoint, precise, refined, spot-on
Words Related to rigorous

correct, right, strict, true

definite, definitive

nice, subtle

careful, fastidious, finical, finicky, meticulous
Near Antonyms of rigorous

approximate, round

false, incorrect, untrue, wrong

careless, loose

indefinite, unclear, vague

doubtful, dubious, questionable, unreliable, untrustworthy
Antonyms of rigorous

coarse, imprecise, inaccurate, inexact, rough
3 not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards
  • a rigorous diet and exercise regimen
Synonyms of rigorous

brassbound, exacting, inflexible, rigid, strict, stringent, uncompromising
Words Related to rigorous

close, conscientious, exact, fussy, meticulous, painstaking, punctilious, scrupulous, undeviating

adamant, adamantine, determined, dogged, firm, relentless, resolved, single-minded, steadfast, stubborn, tenacious, unbending, unflinching

immovable, implacable, unappeasable, unrelenting, unsparing, unyielding

austere, demanding, flinty, grim, hard, hardened, hard-hearted, harsh, severe, stern, tough
Near Antonyms of rigorous

acquiescent, compliant, compromising, pliable, pliant, relenting, yielding

easy, easygoing, gentle, indulgent, kindly, lenient, merciful, mild, pampering, soft, spoiling, tolerant

neglectful, negligent, remiss, slipshod, sloppy, slovenly, unfussy
Antonyms of rigorous

flexible, lax, loose, relaxed, slack
4 requiring considerable physical or mental effort
  • She studied for umpteen months for the rigorous exam.
Synonyms of rigorous

arduous, Augean, backbreaking, challenging, demanding, difficult, effortful, exacting, formidable, grueling (or gruelling), hard, heavy, herculean, killer, laborious, moiling, murderous, rough, rugged, severe, stiff, strenuous, sweaty, tall, testing, toilsome, tough, uphill
Words Related to rigorous

abstract, abstruse, complex, complicated, elusive, hairy, insoluble, intricate, involved, knotty, opaque, problematic (also problematical), recondite, serious, spiny, stubborn, thorny, ticklish, tricky

bruising, burdensome, exhausting, labored, onerous, oppressive, stressful, taxing, tight, trying

annoying, bothersome, distressing, irksome, troublesome, vexatious

grievous, grim, strict, stringent

brutal, cruel, inhuman, painful
Near Antonyms of rigorous

achievable, clear, doable, elementary, manageable, uncomplicated

comforting, gentle, painless, relaxed, smooth, soothing

accessible, friendly, idiotproof, user-friendly
Antonyms of rigorous

cheap, easy, effortless, facile, light, mindless, simple, soft, undemanding

Synonym Discussion of rigorous

rigid, rigorous, strict, stringent mean extremely severe or stern. rigid implies uncompromising inflexibility.
    • rigid rules of conduct
rigorous implies the imposition of hardship and difficulty.
    • the rigorous training of recruits
strict emphasizes undeviating conformity to rules, standards, or requirements.
    • strict enforcement of the law
stringent suggests severe, tight restriction or limitation.
    • stringent standards of admission

Learn More about rigorous

  1. Dictionary: Definition of rigorous Spanish Central: Translation of rigorous Nglish: Translation of rigorous for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of rigorous for Arabic speakers

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