rigorous

[ rig-er-uhs ]

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

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈrigorously, adverb
• ˈrigorousness, noun

Other Words From

• rig·or·ous·ly adverb
• rig·or·ous·ness noun
• o·ver·rig·or·ous adjective
• o·ver·rig·or·ous·ness noun
• self-rig·or·ous adjective
• sem·i·rig·or·ous adjective
• sem·i·rig·or·ous·ness noun
• un·rig·or·ous adjective
• un·rig·or·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rigorous¹

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

Synonym Study

See strict.

Example Sentences

The school says it has since put rigorous safeguarding measures in place.

From BBC

"These guidelines are critical for ensuring that AI tools developed in the U.K. and beyond meet rigorous standards and improve patient outcomes," said Thomas Booth, a co-author from King's College London.

From Science Daily

All it takes is the chutzpah to get together and commit to rigorous storytelling.

From Los Angeles Times

"I’ve seen many people try their luck… and the courts are quite rigorous in the way they assess these arguments," she said.

From BBC

“We just got back from a rigorous trip with the gorillas in Rwanda — there’s no way I could have done that if I hadn’t been in reasonably decent shape.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accurate
• brutal
• burdensome
• correct
• exacting
• harsh
• meticulous
• onerous
• precise
• proper
• rigid
• scrupulous
• strict
• stringent
• uncompromising

More About Rigorous

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.

Where does rigorous come from?

The first records of the word rigorous come from the 1300s. It ultimately comes from the Latin rigēre, meaning “to be stiff.” The suffix -ous is used to form adjectives.

People and things described as rigorous are known for being inflexible when it comes to what is considered the exact right plan or course of action. For this reason, the word is associated with discipline, precision, accuracy, and high standards.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to rigorous?

• rigorously (adverb)
• rigorousness (noun)
• rigor (noun)

What are some synonyms for rigorous?

• rigid
• exacting
• precise
• strict
• inflexible
• severe
• harsh

What are some words that share a root or word element with rigorous? 

• rigor mortis

What are some words that often get used in discussing rigorous?

• testing
• experiment
• study
• training
• discipline
• precision
• accuracy
• standard

How is rigorous used in real life?

Rigorous is often used to describe things like experiments, testing, athletic training, and academic programs.

"Smith… proposes ways for teachers to… empathize with diverse viewpoints, commit to truth over self-interest, use rigorous standards of evidence to draw conclusions, and avoid relying solely on feelings to make decisions." @Rhetors_of_York https://t.co/y50UDLSGhY

— Joshua Hatala (@pjoshh) February 17, 2021

Every toolbox should have a workhorse like the MegaPro 13-in-1 screwdriver.

It's proudly reigned as our pick for the best screwdriver since 2013, holding its own in rounds of rigorous testing against handfuls of worthy adversaries https://t.co/cIzBuBCRzK pic.twitter.com/D88woq9EsQ

— Wirecutter (@wirecutter) February 14, 2021

527 of the 606 soldiers completed the rigorous training here in Essexhttps://t.co/ncqRgyv2XT

— Essex Live (@essexlive) February 16, 2021

Try using rigorous!

Which of the following words is a synonym of rigorous?

A. rigid
B. exacting
C. precise
D. all of the above