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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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
Precisely how rigorous planetary protection standards will be enforced is also something to consider.
—
Jeff Spry, Space.com, 7 Nov. 2025
The Pendleton Act stated that federal government jobs had to be rewarded based on merit and jobs would only be given through rigorous and competitive exams, per the National Archives.
—Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
If so, an environmental assessment worksheet or an even more rigorous environmental impact study could be mandated before permits could be issued.
—Peter Passi, Twin Cities, 6 Nov. 2025
Larger EVTOLs must undergo rigorous, multi-year testing to meet the standards set by authorities like the FAA.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rigorous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rigorous
Adjective
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Capping those rates could backfire, resulting in significantly stricter lending standards and making credit unavailable to lower-income people or those with lower credit scores.—
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Per his release, the rapper must follow strict guidelines for the next five years, such as no alcohol, drug testing, and federal supervision when opening bank accounts.—
Adjective
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Mostly, though, Boland strangles batters with his suffocating and deadly-accurate line and length.—
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Comedians can sometimes be eerily accurate in the way their jokes predict the future.—
Adjective
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While filming, the cast follow stringent guidelines that prevent them from communicating with one another when cameras are down, or even connecting with people outside of the show.—
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According to Brown, after stringent authentication processes are followed, jewelry is typically polished before being listed, while handbags are professionally cleaned.—
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?—
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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.—
Adjective
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This leads to families having to make tough decisions, said Cindy Kincaid, family caregiver program manager at Centralina Regional Council.—
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She's been amazing, a sort of brutal support, tough lover, very educational.—
Adjective
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The engine, freed from its hook by a sudden hard, precise kick, quickly sank into the river, pulling the cord tight and dragging the foreman underwater.—
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The company presented Adam, a full-sized humanoid designed for dynamic mobility, alongside Adam-U, a data-collection and training platform focused on precise motion capture and manipulation.—
Adjective
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But last month, Critchfield backed off in the face of a challenging state budget.—
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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.—
Adjective
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Bipartisan harsh criticism Senators from both sides of the aisle blasted the investigation.—
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Common exfoliators and fine line-eliminators like retinol and glycolic acid are too harsh on my skin, but this serum utilizes lactic acid, which is far more gentle but just as potent.—
Cite this Entry
“Rigorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rigorous. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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