as in hardships
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
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Recent Examples of rigors
The rigors of running a top-notch Thoroughbred barn can be quite challenging.
—
Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
In reality, Caglianone didn’t have enough seasoning to handle the rigors of major-league pitching.
—Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026
His father, Rick, an NBA journeyman, used to school his son in the rigors of hoops.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
Several Orange County teams that qualified for the regional opted out of playing, citing the rigors of the season and the upcoming schedule for travel softball.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 1 June 2026
Faculty member Deonté Warren has led research in 2026 on how to prepare singers for the rigors of musical theater performance.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 25 May 2026
After his sophomore season, Beane and previous coach Sean McDermott criticized Kincaid for not properly preparing himself for the rigors of a full schedule.
—Tim Graham, New York Times, 21 May 2026
David Hasselhoff’s complaints about the rigors of stage performing?
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 18 May 2026
In one of those sessions, his upper calves — not used to the rigors of exercise — partially tore from calf raises.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 1 May 2026
Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
In reality, Caglianone didn’t have enough seasoning to handle the rigors of major-league pitching.
—Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026
His father, Rick, an NBA journeyman, used to school his son in the rigors of hoops.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
Several Orange County teams that qualified for the regional opted out of playing, citing the rigors of the season and the upcoming schedule for travel softball.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 1 June 2026
Faculty member Deonté Warren has led research in 2026 on how to prepare singers for the rigors of musical theater performance.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 25 May 2026
After his sophomore season, Beane and previous coach Sean McDermott criticized Kincaid for not properly preparing himself for the rigors of a full schedule.
—Tim Graham, New York Times, 21 May 2026
David Hasselhoff’s complaints about the rigors of stage performing?
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 18 May 2026
In one of those sessions, his upper calves — not used to the rigors of exercise — partially tore from calf raises.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rigors
Noun
-
Others spoke to financial hardships, like the desire to buy a home or keep a job.—
Deborah Vankin,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
-
The grants will help owners pay for kitchen equipment upgrades, technology improvements, employee training, retention and recovery from hardships.—
Samantha Gowen,
Oc Register,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Defying those difficulties, Alex Vlack’s The Revisionist, a Tribeca world premiere, gives us not one but four main characters who are published or aspiring writers.—
Stephen Farber,
HollywoodReporter,
15 June 2026
-
If not treated, the child can experience a progressive paralysis that can lead to breathing difficulties and require weeks of hospitalization.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rigors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rigors. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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