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Synonym Chooser

How is the word rigorous distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of rigorous are rigid, strict, and stringent. While all these words mean "extremely severe or stern," rigorous implies the imposition of hardship and difficulty.

the rigorous training of recruits

When can rigid be used instead of rigorous?

While in some cases nearly identical to rigorous, rigid implies uncompromising inflexibility.

rigid rules of conduct

When would strict be a good substitute for rigorous?

Although the words strict and rigorous have much in common, strict emphasizes undeviating conformity to rules, standards, or requirements.

strict enforcement of the law

When might stringent be a better fit than rigorous?

The synonyms stringent and rigorous are sometimes interchangeable, but stringent suggests severe, tight restriction or limitation.

stringent standards of admission

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 rigorous In response, Gavi defended its practices, saying all vaccine decisions are based on WHO expert guidance and rigorous scientific review. Amanda Castro hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025 Denver has been preparing for the arrival of the emerald ash borer since 2016 through public education, replacing small ash trees on city land and rigorous treatment of historic ash trees on city property, officials said. Katie Langford, Denver Post, 26 June 2025 Multiple liaison members of the panel, representing outside groups, objected to the committee bypassing the rigorous, usually monthslong CDC systemic review process that studies evidence on the need, impact and feasibility of new recommendations. Nicole Brown Chau, CBS News, 26 June 2025 Now 81, at an age when most of his peers are content to reflect on past glories in between tee times and early-bird specials, Bruckheimer still starts each day with a rigorous workout. Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for rigorous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rigorous
Adjective
  • Officials accomplished this by re-evaluating risk, putting strict limits on how long a person can be held in isolation and expanding behavioral health programs.
    Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 June 2025
  • The train itself is powered by energy-efficient DX-class diesel-electric locomotives, and the carrier maintains strict environmental protocols, including waste minimization and recycling practices on board.
    Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 5 July 2025
  • Even when observers were given the personal backstory behind a tattoo, their judgments didn’t become significantly more accurate.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • The Fed subjects those banks to more stringent capital requirements in case of another financial crisis — somewhere between 1% to 4.5% on top of emergency fund requirements that all large banks must adhere to.
    Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 26 June 2025
  • However, this rapid surge goes hand in hand with the evolution of stringent compliance standards imposed by regulatory authorities to promote fairness and protect users.
    Dzmitry Lubneuski, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • James is playing the final year of his contract at $52.6 million, which is a very difficult number for teams to pay.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 July 2025
  • The fire is in difficult country with access issues and firefighters are evaluating options for the right flank and head of the fire.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • Even these young players already have major tournament experience — a huge strength given their tough group.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • Nor is anything that tough necessary to prevent chronic illness.
    Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • To ensure the headphones are easy to wear, ultra-soft and durable ear cups, along with advanced damping materials, tuned venting and precise port adjustments, provide a high level of passive noise isolation.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
  • No one else is doing this in a scalable, premium and culturally precise way.
    Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • As such, piloting an FPV drone is a completely different, entirely more challenging kettle of fish than piloting a standard camera drone.
    Sam Kieldsen, Wired News, 27 June 2025
  • All of these factors combine to make AI adoption incredibly challenging, expensive and time-consuming.
    Dave Friend, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • Come spring, the Ranger III carries everything from outhouses and diesel fuel for the generators to construction supplies to repair whatever damage Mother Nature did to facilities over the harsh winter.
    Diana Lambdin Meyer, USA Today, 28 June 2025
  • Yet the harshest critic is often the one in the mirror.
    Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rigorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rigorous. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

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