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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accurate
meeting the highest standard of accuracy
a rigorous analysis of the data
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stringent
not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards
a rigorous diet and exercise regimen
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4
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
studied for umpteen months for the rigorous exam
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rigorous
Established trees won’t need such rigorous attention.
—
Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 May 2025
The decision left thousands of refugees, many living in camps for years and having undergone a rigorous vetting process, stranded.
—Yonat Shimron, NPR, 21 May 2025
Digital forensics demands rigorous methodology to ensure evidence integrity and reliable findings.
—Lars Daniel, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Members have included figures such as Benjamin Franklin, Charles Darwin and Martin Luther King Jr.
New members are chosen through a rigorous nomination and election process, according to the academy.
—Sacbee.com, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rigorous
Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 May 2025
The decision left thousands of refugees, many living in camps for years and having undergone a rigorous vetting process, stranded.
—Yonat Shimron, NPR, 21 May 2025
Digital forensics demands rigorous methodology to ensure evidence integrity and reliable findings.
—Lars Daniel, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Members have included figures such as Benjamin Franklin, Charles Darwin and Martin Luther King Jr.
New members are chosen through a rigorous nomination and election process, according to the academy.
—Sacbee.com, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rigorous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rigorous
Adjective
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Under the measure's broad scope and strict distance limits, few areas in Ohio would remain open to such purchases.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
-
Back then, the Royals had a strict rule prohibiting phones in the clubhouse during a game.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
23 May 2025
Adjective
-
Forecasts will become less accurate in time, with people getting less lead time when inclement weather may impact their daily lives.—
Bryan Karrick,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 May 2025
-
Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
29 May 2025
Adjective
-
This supports meeting stringent regulatory requirements like HIPAA, GDPR, CMMC and PCI-DSS, even for AI/ML workloads with highly sensitive datasets.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
-
Starting the clock in 1980 is rhetorically convenient because inequality was then unusually low, following decades of steep taxation and stringent regulation that had dampened entrepreneurship and curtailed many ambitious career paths.—
DANIEL WALDENSTROM,
Foreign Affairs,
19 May 2025
Adjective
-
But the fact that Schwartzman, in his first film, was given the difficult task of stealing laughs away from a comedy legend, and so often succeeds in doing so, gives him the slight edge.—
Shannon Carlin,
Time,
30 May 2025
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These connections are difficult to make from within, but consultants are trained to see across boundaries.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
That’s really tough to stop from turning into scoring opportunities for the opponent.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
-
Dapple Baby takes this task very seriously, offering a fragrance-free formula that’s tough on stains yet gentle on newborn skin.—
Pamela Brill,
Parents,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Producing energy depends on precise teamwork between nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA, like two musicians playing in perfect harmony.—
Elay Shech,
The Conversation,
30 May 2025
-
No human prompts are needed with agentic AI, and each agent can be set to target precise goals.—
Tom Dunlop,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
However, this challenging situation also presents an opportunity for businesses.—
Kendra Davenport,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
-
In this one-man show, Whitfield steps onstage not just as a performer, but as a guide—challenging, inspiring, and activating the ABFF community to transform their pain into purpose.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
In fact, all forms of Persian rap — from street rap and gangsta to philosophical and social hip-hop — were used in the service of protest, with many works accompanied by heavy beats, dark atmospheres, and harsh narrative styles.—
Ali Farahmand,
IndieWire,
23 May 2025
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Padilla had harsh comments for the president and the GOP in a statement Thursday after the House vote.—
David Lightman,
Sacbee.com,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rigorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rigorous. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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