1
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
a rigorous football coach who pushes his players to their physical and mental limits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accurate
meeting the highest standard of accuracy
a rigorous analysis of the data
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stringent
not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards
a rigorous diet and exercise regimen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
studied for umpteen months for the rigorous exam
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 rigorous
Life sciences companies are required to submit promotional materials through a rigorous Medical-Legal-Regulatory (MLR) review process before exposing them to healthcare providers, patients, or consumers.
—
Chase Feiger, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
New Yorkers have a friend in Hell Gate, a happily cheeky yet extremely rigorous city news outlet.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 8 July 2025
The best Prime Day espresso machine deals For years, Breville’s espresso makers have outperformed most of the competition in our teams’ rigorous espresso machine product testing, and year after year at least a few best-selling models get marked down for Prime Day.
—Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 July 2025
Effective legislation can preserve local control and ensure rigorous design standards, while also making sure that housing is built where it’s needed most.
—Laura Friedman, Oc Register, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rigorous
Chase Feiger, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
New Yorkers have a friend in Hell Gate, a happily cheeky yet extremely rigorous city news outlet.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 8 July 2025
The best Prime Day espresso machine deals For years, Breville’s espresso makers have outperformed most of the competition in our teams’ rigorous espresso machine product testing, and year after year at least a few best-selling models get marked down for Prime Day.
—Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 July 2025
Effective legislation can preserve local control and ensure rigorous design standards, while also making sure that housing is built where it’s needed most.
—Laura Friedman, Oc Register, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rigorous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rigorous
Adjective
-
Growing up in a strict Mennonite community in rural Ohio truly shaped my ethics and values.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
11 July 2025
-
That’s not the strict definition of doxxing because the post did not give Butker’s address.—
Mike Hendricks,
Kansas City Star,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
5 July 2025
-
Even when observers were given the personal backstory behind a tattoo, their judgments didn’t become significantly more accurate.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
Adjective
-
However, the Senate bill still strips tax incentives for wind, solar and other renewable energy projects by 2027 and gives developers stringent requirements to claim them.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
3 July 2025
-
This industry faces stringent requirements on traceability, quality control, handling sensitive goods and managing recalls, on top of a list of nuanced complexities with global regulations.—
Andre Claudio,
Sourcing Journal,
3 July 2025
Adjective
-
James is playing the final year of his contract at $52.6 million, which is a very difficult number for teams to pay.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 July 2025
-
Our models and expertise can sniff out the broad parameters, but the precise location and timing of moisture plumes, training (quasi-stationary rain cells), and forcing mechanism can be difficult.—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
Adjective
-
Morton, 43, may take that advice under serious consideration, mentioning how tough the fans – and even fellow cast members – have been on her following this past season’s cast trip to Grenada.—
John Lawson,
Essence,
9 July 2025
-
But after rookie third baseman Ronny Mauricio made an exceptionally tough double play to end a two-on, one-out threat in the bottom of the eighth, there was no way the Mets were losing.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
To ensure the headphones are easy to wear, ultra-soft and durable ear cups, along with advanced damping materials, tuned venting and precise port adjustments, provide a high level of passive noise isolation.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
-
No one else is doing this in a scalable, premium and culturally precise way.—
Kanika Talwar,
Footwear News,
4 July 2025
Adjective
-
The producer said getting his hands on an original copy of the Carter song on LP proved challenging, and expensive, signaling a cult following for such music.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
9 July 2025
-
Gap Easy Trousers Finding summer work pants that are both breathable and stylish can be challenging, but these petite Easy Trousers from Gap fit the bill perfectly.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
The biggest change was the introduction of the punitive second apron, which imposed harsh team-building restrictions on teams that crossed said line.—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
The mask fully blocks out the harsh cabin lighting and that inevitable sunrise glow before landing.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rigorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rigorous. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share