robust

adjective

rō-ˈbəst How to pronounce robust (audio)
Definition of robustnext
1
as in healthy
enjoying health and vigor a robust and sturdy toddler

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2
as in energetic
having active strength of body or mind a robust older man who still bicycles 10 miles a day

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3
as in rich
having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor) beef and other red meats should be accompanied by robust wines

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4
as in strong
not showing weakness or uncertainty a robust slap on the back welcoming me to the company

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Citing resilient domestic spending, strong productivity growth, and robust capital investment, the Fed described economic activity as expanding at a solid pace. — Katica Roy, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026 Shares of independent power producers (CEG, NRG, VST) saw multiples contract 2 to 8 turns during the rate surge, even as power contract pricing and long-term volume demand remained robust. — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026 August’s job numbers, which were surprisingly robust, were revised down by 29,000 jobs, to 133,000. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2026 The opponents also contend — as do many independent election experts — that California already has robust measures for verifying the eligibility and identity of voters, and that voter fraud, including by noncitizens, is exceedingly rare. — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for robust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for robust
  1. healthy
  2. energetic
  3. rich
  4. strong
  5. sturdy
  6. dynamic
  7. potent
  8. solid
Adjective
  • Award-winning chef Kai Mueller has created a large and unusual menu that leans into the location, with a much healthier twist (all dishes that are safe to have on the detox programme are clearly marked).
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • An annual average can appear healthy while Tuesdays and softer months create the downside.
    — Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of healthy
Adjective
  • By studying what happens when these energetic particles collide with target materials, scientists can investigate the shapes and sizes of atomic nuclei.
    — Andrea Richard, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026
  • About 35 times more energetic than any neutrino seen before, it was picked up by the under-construction Cubic Kilometer Neutrino Telescope (KM3NeT) detector off the coast of Sicily.
    — Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of energetic
Adjective
  • The whole brims with a sense of place, weaving the capital’s rich artistic heritage into a background that is unashamedly luxurious.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The administration's plan to allow more imports of foreign beef has particularly roiled the agriculture-rich state of Nebraska.
    — NICHOLAS INGRAM, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of rich
Adjective
  • Mercury in Scorpio squares Mars in Leo, making opinions stronger, reactions quicker, and certain conversations easier to escalate than intended.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Fire officials had also failed to take advantage of satellite imagery after strong winds grounded their typical eyes in the sky, aircraft.
    — Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of strong
Adjective
  • Despite these headwinds, the labor market has proven sturdy so far this year.
    — Max Zahn, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
  • But once assembly was complete the pit was very sturdy, and my wife and I were easily able to carry it between my porch and a crushed-stone section of my backyard that usually holds a firepit, trying it in both places.
    — Noah Kaufman, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of sturdy
Adjective
  • There can be two women who are strong and dynamic, who are, at points, up against each other or bumping heads, but have the same mission and goal.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Currently, however, AI is primarily being used for ICE and other surveillance, drone warfare targeting and potential dynamic pricing at places like McDonald’s.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of dynamic
Adjective
  • As the age’s potent mix of terror and delirium spun on, designers and illustrators proposed ways to live comfortably in space, underwater or in underground bunkers.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The compound also acts as a potent antioxidant, neutralizing unstable molecules that build up in non-healing wounds and cause cellular damage.
    — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of potent
Adjective
  • Officials at the meeting discussed the rise in yields, attributing them to expectations for higher rates from the Fed as well as the build-out in artificial intelligence and solid economic growth.
    — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
  • All of these features sit on a durable Goodyear® Performance Outsole, so from the heel to the toe and from the top to the bottom, their feet are in for a solid, supportive run.
    — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of solid

Browse Nearby Words

robs
robust
robustious
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Cite this Entry

“Robust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/robust. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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