1
as in vigorous
marked by or uttered with forcefulness
parents who voiced strenuous objections to the new textbooks
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2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
a strenuous workout on the obstacle course
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strenuous
Sports drinks are useful only for long, strenuous activity and should otherwise be limited due to high sugar.
—
Emmanuella Ogbonna, Health, 26 Dec. 2025
Removing a bathtub ring is nothing hard or strenuous.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2025
The administration has billed this as a response to the American service members who were killed in Syria, allegedly by ISIS, but this looked like a pretty strenuous attack on targets in Syria this week.
—ABC News, 21 Dec. 2025
And everything curdles in the wake of this strenuous effort.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strenuous
Emmanuella Ogbonna, Health, 26 Dec. 2025
Removing a bathtub ring is nothing hard or strenuous.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2025
The administration has billed this as a response to the American service members who were killed in Syria, allegedly by ISIS, but this looked like a pretty strenuous attack on targets in Syria this week.
—ABC News, 21 Dec. 2025
And everything curdles in the wake of this strenuous effort.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strenuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strenuous
Adjective
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Started from seed, this type of sedum is a vigorous grower, forming a tidy mound with strong, flop-free stems.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Jan. 2026
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But a new study, published in Nature Communications in October, says vigorous activity is even more valuable than that.—
Greg Presto,
Outside,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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That’s the kind of chance that last season, a more aggressive-looking Stolarz would have used his frame — and frankly, his big-game presence — to turn away with ease.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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The agency has also faced criticism for aggressive tactics used by ICE agents in executing the president’s immigration policy.—
Andy Rose 19 hr ago,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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But last month, Critchfield backed off in the face of a challenging state budget.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Jan. 2026
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Depending on where in the country your family lives, winter can be a challenging time for kids who are cooped up inside amid the chillier weather.—
Mia Taylor,
Parents,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Safavi said the blackout coincided with violent confrontations in several regions.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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Parallel societies in certain urban areas and rising violent crime statistics linked to some migrant cohorts in countries such as Sweden and Germany led to the dramatic rise of populist and patriotic parties across the continent, from France to Italy to the Netherlands.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors.—
Harlan Vaughn,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
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The Encinitas Green Business Network provides a rigorous framework for local organizations to reduce their environmental footprint through actionable, practical, and high-impact improvements.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Even the climax of the film, when Bella confronts Edward about his vampire identity in the misty Washington forest, loses its dramatic edge thanks to Edward's emphatic rebuke of his predatory nature.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
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Lamar Jackson made an emphatic return to NFL action on Thursday Night Football, throwing four touchdown passes to lead his Baltimore Ravens to a 28-6 win over the Miami Dolphins.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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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
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However, their record at the Etihad makes for tough reading.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strenuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strenuous. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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