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Synonyms

rigorous

American  
[rig-er-uhs] / ˈrɪg ər əs /

adjective

  1. characterized by rigor; rigidly severe or harsh, as people, rules, or discipline.

    rigorous laws.

    Synonyms:
    unyielding, stiff, inflexible, hard, austere, stern
    Antonyms:
    soft, flexible
  2. severely exact or accurate; precise.

    rigorous research.

    Synonyms:
    finical, demanding
    Antonyms:
    inaccurate
  3. (of weather or climate) uncomfortably severe or harsh; extremely inclement.

    Synonyms:
    bitter, hard
    Antonyms:
    mild
  4. Logic, Mathematics. logically valid.


rigorous British  
/ ˈrɪɡərəs /

adjective

  1. characterized by or proceeding from rigour; harsh, strict, or severe

    rigorous discipline

  2. severely accurate; scrupulous

    rigorous book-keeping

  3. (esp of weather) extreme or harsh

  4. maths logic (of a proof) making the validity of the successive steps completely explicit

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does rigorous mean? Rigorous is used to describe things characterized by rigor—strict discipline or severe exactness and precision.Describing an experiment or study as rigorous means it was conducted with extreme precision in order to achieve accuracy.Describing an athletic or academic program as rigorous means it is designed to be challenging and focused on strict discipline.If a teacher is known for being rigorous, it means that they are very strict about things like students completing all of their work and following the rules exactly.Example: The are the result of months of rigorous testing.

Related Words

See strict.

Other Word Forms

  • overrigorous adjective
  • overrigorousness noun
  • rigorously adverb
  • rigorousness noun
  • self-rigorous adjective
  • semirigorous adjective
  • semirigorousness noun
  • unrigorous adjective
  • unrigorousness noun

Etymology

Origin of rigorous

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin rigōrōsus; rigor, -ous

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The justices sent the case back to the lower courts with instructions to apply more rigorous scrutiny to the law, which targets what is colloquially known as conversion therapy.

From The Wall Street Journal

The justices sent the case back to the lower courts with instructions to apply more rigorous scrutiny to the law.

From The Wall Street Journal

Managers with experienced investment teams, rigorous underwriting standards and strong risk controls are structurally better positioned to navigate periods of stress.

From MarketWatch

More than half these plans have been sued in the past 15 years, even though they follow rigorous fiduciary best practices with the advice of industry experts.

From The Wall Street Journal

Its rigorous order and deep perspective, enhanced by the receding lines of ship masts and rail tracks along the expansive quay, address his motif in a style apropos of its modern subject.

From The Wall Street Journal