1
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
a rigorous football coach who pushes his players to their physical and mental limits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accurate
meeting the highest standard of accuracy
a rigorous analysis of the data
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stringent
not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards
a rigorous diet and exercise regimen
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
studied for umpteen months for the rigorous exam
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in severity
the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism)
the rigorousness of the training paid off when the dance students performed brilliantly at the recital
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2
as in accuracy
the quality or state of being very accurate
these days the rigorousness of electronic timing is necessary to measure the minute differences in the performances of Olympic athletes
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rigorous
Jeff Spry, Space.com, 7 Nov. 2025
The Pendleton Act stated that federal government jobs had to be rewarded based on merit and jobs would only be given through rigorous and competitive exams, per the National Archives.
—Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rigorous
Adjective
Precisely how rigorous planetary protection standards will be enforced is also something to consider.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 7 Nov. 2025
The Pendleton Act stated that federal government jobs had to be rewarded based on merit and jobs would only be given through rigorous and competitive exams, per the National Archives.
—Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
An award-winning poet, essayist, and editor, Lehmann embraces both the flexibility and rigorousness of creative writing.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rigorous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rigorous
Adjective
-
Senior officials said that Medicare beneficiaries seeking coverage for GLP-1 drugs for obesity would have to meet strict eligibility criteria and that these would follow Make America Healthier Again principles to address chronic disease risk factors.—
Alice Park,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Beyond the major races, Democrats swept state Supreme Court contests in Pennsylvania and won ballot initiatives in Colorado and Maine, where voters approved gun safety measures and rejected stricter voter ID laws.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
If accurate even only in part, such a dramatic escalation would cast doubt on the reliability of the election results and put the military at the center of the blame for the outcome.—
Peter D. Feaver,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
-
The median offers a more accurate view of what's happening in a market than the average sales price, which would mean taking the sum of all sales prices then dividing by the number of homes sold.—
USA TODAY Network,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The firm focuses on large money center banks and stringent bond documentation.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
-
This is a critical development in that Newsom’s administration has imposed the most stringent fuel standards in the country — standards that demand the production of a unique blend of gasoline known as California Reformulated Gasoline.—
Will Oneill,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Jens generally chooses his words carefully, and is, what’s more, particularly reticent just after finishing a long and difficult winter delivery trip; what’s a person supposed to do with words in a blizzard anyway, up on a stormy heath and all directions lost?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
In his first start in the wake of Beau Pribula’s significant injury, Zollers walked into a difficult situation, and his stat line reflected it.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Kp is an index used to indicate the severity of the global magnetic disturbances in near-Earth space, NOAA said.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Brain scans revealed the severity of the bleeds and whether patients showed signs of cerebral small vessel disease, a condition that damages tiny blood vessels in the brain and is linked to aging, high blood pressure and dementia.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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And hospitals are moving quickly to adopt it, drawn by the promise of lower costs and sharper diagnostic accuracy.—
Dr. Nicholas Cozzi,
Time,
10 Nov. 2025
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However, anesthesia, commonly used during experiments, alters brain activity and blood circulation, affecting the accuracy of results.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
This loss had to be especially tough for the Jayhawks, considering a controversial holding call on KU changed the momentum of the game.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
-
However, their record at the Etihad makes for tough reading.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Traditionally, systems capable of producing megawatts of power lacked the fine control needed for these delicate adjustments, while ultra-precise systems could not handle the massive energy loads.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The cookbooks, as precise and organized as a home ec teacher’s pantry, are filled with family-favorite recipes ranging from Wild-Rice Barley Casserole to Finnish Pulla Coffee Bread.—
Molly Guthrey,
Twin Cities,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rigorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rigorous. Accessed 23 Dec. 2025.
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