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 Games are supposed to bring about 1 million visitors to the US this year, Sacks said, so the benefit to host cities will be substantial, though hotel block sales aren’t as robust as those cities had hoped. Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 25 May 2026 To some, the state of the race, though, reflects years of dismay over the level of enduring civic involvement in the city and the need for a more robust base of private and individual support. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 24 May 2026 This was one reason that Defne and Mete had wanted to move back—for their families, of course, but also for the sake of a community that seemed more robust, far-reaching. Ayşegül Savaş, New Yorker, 24 May 2026 On Wednesday morning, join one of three robust discussions led by the authors of Fortune’s technology newsletters: Term Sheet’s Allie Garfinkle, Eye on AI’s Jeremy Kahn, and the guy behind Fortune Tech: yours truly. Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for robust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for robust
Adjective
  • But with Cole, Schlittler and Fried potentially healthy, operating at full capacity and spearheading this rotation down the stretch and into October?
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 23 May 2026
  • Essential Care Tips Proper cucumber care leads to a speedy, healthy harvest.
    SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 23 May 2026
Adjective
  • Green auroras, the most common type, form when energetic particles excite oxygen atoms about 60 to 150 miles (100 to 250 km) above Earth.
    Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 26 May 2026
  • Conversations with partners, friends and spouses will be lively and energetic.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 25 May 2026
Adjective
  • Rooms are done in rich fabrics in warm earth tones and dressed up with elements of local design, such as reproductions of Pavel Janak’s angular Cubist timber chairs and elegant chaise longues from designer Adolf Loos.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 May 2026
  • Key Takeaways As a low-glycemic-index fruit, dates are rich in nutrients, antioxidants, and fiber, offering potential health benefits.
    Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 25 May 2026
Adjective
  • Lost in all the offense was the strong pitching performance from Tyson Bobo, who won his second game in the playoffs and improved to 6-3 on the season.
    John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2026
  • De Zerbi has been in the job for less than two months but quickly forged a strong bond with his players, as shown by those full-time scenes.
    Jay Harris, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Adjective
  • Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
  • Tutt and his teams have worked on engineering designs to safely drop anything needing a sturdy parachute — including the Orion capsule that splashed down last month off the coast of San Diego after its 477,710-mile journey to the moon and back.
    Pat Maio, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • Ideally, a midfielder with a dynamic movement profile, slash dribbler or ball-winner.
    Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026
  • Dawson has coached many dynamic receivers who have played in the NFL.
    Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Adjective
  • Significantly, Brooklyn voters comprise about 60% of the district’s electorate, another potent edge for Lander, who has deep roots in the neighborhood.
    Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 23 May 2026
  • Behind the bats of Aaron Judge and Ben Rice and with franchise ace Gerrit Cole set to join Cam Schlittler at the frontline of the rotation, the team is seeing a potent combination of youth and experience in the batting order and the starting pitcher staff.
    Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Adjective
  • The Centurions were fueled Tuesday by solid defense and a strong outing from junior pitcher Chase Kline.
    Justin Vigil Zuniga, Daily News, 27 May 2026
  • Nishida’s greatest tools are his speed, and his ability to play superior defense with a solid, dependable throwing arm.
    Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Robust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/robust. Accessed 30 May. 2026.

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