Definition of robustnext
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word robust distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of robust are hale, healthy, sound, well, and wholesome. While all these words mean "enjoying or indicative of good health," robust implies the opposite of all that is delicate or sickly.

a lively, robust little boy

When would hale be a good substitute for robust?

Although the words hale and robust have much in common, hale applies particularly to robustness in old age.

still hale at the age of eighty

When can healthy be used instead of robust?

The meanings of healthy and robust largely overlap; however, healthy implies full strength and vigor as well as freedom from signs of disease.

a healthy family

When is sound a more appropriate choice than robust?

The words sound and robust are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sound emphasizes the absence of disease, weakness, or malfunction.

a sound heart

When is it sensible to use well instead of robust?

In some situations, the words well and robust are roughly equivalent. However, well implies merely freedom from disease or illness.

she has never been a well person

When might wholesome be a better fit than robust?

The words wholesome and robust can be used in similar contexts, but wholesome implies appearance and behavior indicating soundness and balance.

a face with a wholesome glow

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 robust The robust air service that results from the dual hub is one of the reasons global businesses and visitors choose Chicago, and why residents have easy access to flights around the world. Ray Lahood, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026 The rally followed robust second-quarter cloud growth fueled by continued demand for AI services. Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026 Through its robust digital platform, newsletters and live events, Sportico delivers breaking news, enterprise and investigative reporting and sharp analysis covering every facet of the business of sports. Thr Staff, HollywoodReporter, 3 Aug. 2026 Music during the service will be provided by as-yet-unnamed members of Hansard’s family and robust group of musical friends. Spin Staff, SPIN, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for robust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for robust
Adjective
  • Doctors say Braswell and Toberman share a trait common among older adults who remain healthy and independent well into their later years.
    Nancy Badertscher, AJC.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • This flavorful mix of fruit bits makes a refreshing snack or a healthy treat for lunch boxes.
    Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 5 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Bergé—still blustery and energetic at sixty-eight—flanks Saint Laurent protectively as the two leave their hotel for the ceremony, where the designer is set to receive a lifetime-achievement award.
    Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
  • As a rookie last season, Watkins established himself as one of the Wizards’ most energetic and physical perimeter defenders.
    Josh Robbins, New York Times, 30 July 2026
Adjective
  • It’s lightly weighted for extra coziness and comes in rich fall-ready hues like terracotta and chestnut to make your bedroom feel moodier.
    Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Aug. 2026
  • But as dreams of getting rich have grown, so have the dangers of losing it all.
    Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Sustained high performance by firms that treat customer value as primary remains the strongest empirical rebuttal.
    Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Second baseman Amira Hondras, coming off a strong women’s baseball World Cup debut last week, tied the game in the at-bat prior with a single up the middle to set up Villareal’s heroics.
    Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • All of these are captured using his Nikon Z8 and 100-400mm lens, usually set on a sturdy tripod with a fluid head.
    Patrick Connolly Orlando Sentinel, Arkansas Online, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Getty’s 5%-plus dividend accounts for less than 80% of FFO estimates, and it’s backed by sturdy tenants with good credit.
    Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Scientists have captured images of the sun's surface in the finest detail yet, revealing a strange and dynamic facade.
    CBS News, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The imagery and time-lapse video reveal an unprecedented look at the sun’s complex and dynamic photosphere, the visible surface of the sun that exists as a thin layer of atmosphere shaped by magnetic fields and currents of fluid plasma.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The timing of the snow and ice melt, plus rainfalls, determines whether a plot of thawing permafrost is waterlogged — and whether carbon isn’t just turned into CO2, but also methane, a greenhouse gas four times as potent.
    Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • The rebirth of the Durutti Column suggests Reilly’s catastrophic imagination is just as potent as his world-building one.
    Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026
Adjective
  • Trump can point to a low unemployment rate and solid consumer spending as proof that the economy remains stable, yet there are few signs that these arguments have connected with the public.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • But on Friday, after another solid day from the former South Carolina Gamecock, head coach Dave Canales had a simple response to how Brazzell’s absence might affect Legette.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Robust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/robust. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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