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rigor
[ rig-er ]
noun
- strictness, severity, or harshness, as in dealing with people.
Synonyms: inflexibility, stringency
- the full or extreme severity of laws, rules, etc.
- severity of living conditions; hardship; austerity:
the rigor of wartime existence.
- a severe or harsh act, circumstance, etc.
Synonyms: cruelty
- scrupulous or inflexible accuracy or adherence:
the logical rigor of mathematics.
- severity of weather or climate or an instance of this:
the rigors of winter.
- Pathology. a sudden coldness, as that preceding certain fevers; chill.
- Physiology. a state of rigidity in muscle tissues during which they are unable to respond to stimuli due to the coagulation of muscle protein.
- Obsolete. stiffness or rigidity.
rigor
/ ˈraɪɡɔː; ˈrɪɡə /
noun
- med a sudden feeling of chilliness, often accompanied by shivering: it sometimes precedes a fever
- ˈrɪɡə pathol rigidity of a muscle; muscular cramp
- a state of rigidity assumed by some animals in reaction to sudden shock
- the inertia assumed by some plants in conditions unfavourable to growth
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of rigor1
Example Sentences
Zeldin’s lack of environmental experience could impede efforts to dismantle regulations, which takes loads of expertise, legal rigor and time.
“It’ll hurt students who could thrive in an environment like that” if rigor is diminished, she said.
“They have spent public funds in troubling ways, adopted lax standards and allowed rigor to decline and have allowed the research enterprise to become politicized and ideological.”
He credited the coaches at Georgia for preparing him to face the rigors of the NFL.
The Superior Court ruling raises broader questions about the rigor of San Bernardino County’s process for approving industrial warehouse projects, which have become a mainstay of the county’s economy.
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Related Words
More About Rigor
What is rigor?
Rigor is strictness and inflexibility, as in The military academy was known for its dedication to perfection, discipline, and rigor.
Rigor is also hardship or austerity, as in Young soldiers are rarely ready to handle the rigors of war.
Rigor can also refer to a strict accuracy, as with scientific experiments.
If a teacher is known for their rigor, they are very strict about things like students finishing all their homework and are likely to punish students who don’t follow the rules. A person known for rigor is likely to support punishments for people who misbehave rather than rewards for people who behave.
Rigor can also mean a condition that makes life harder, such as living without electricity. When referring to austerity, can mean living without a lot of things that make life pleasant, like takeout food, video games, and traveling.
Finally, rigor can mean strict accuracy or precision, as in The report on water pollution was commended for its scientific rigor.
In British English, this word is commonly spelled as rigour.
The adjective form of rigor is rigorous and it is most often used to mean something is very harsh or full of difficulties, as in It takes years of rigorous training to be an Olympic athlete.
Example: We nearly froze as we huddled in the log cabin and suffered through the rigors of the harsh, unforgiving winter.
Where does rigor come from?
The first records of rigor come from around 1350. It ultimately comes from the Latin rigēre, meaning “to be stiff.” If a person is known for their rigor, they are known for being inflexible in their beliefs, opinions, or actions.
If you watch a lot of murder mysterious or are familiar with medicine, you have likely heard the Latin rigor used in the term rigor mortis, meaning a stiffening of the body after death.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to rigor?
What are some synonyms for rigor?
What are some words that share a root or word element with rigor?
What are some words that often get used in discussing rigor?
How is rigor used in real life?
Rigor is most often used to mean strictness or hardship.
Discipline and rigor are not enemies of creativity and imagination. To create anything that matters will require strict mental discipline.
— François Chollet (@fchollet) June 22, 2014
Pat Hughes explaining the rigors of playing 24 straight games even though it's fun to play baseball. "Imagine going to 24 straight picnics."
— Mark Grote (@markgrotesports) August 3, 2016
I found out my girlfriend likes Kings of Leon, and now I'm finding out about the rigors of single-fatherhood.
— pauly casillas (@PaulyPeligroso) May 11, 2011
Try using rigor!
True or False?
A teacher who is known for their rigor will let students do whatever they want and will rarely punish them.
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