Rigid — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Rigid (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

1. not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards

   "rigid enforcement of drug laws"

   similar: brassbound, cast-iron, exacting, hard-line, inflexible, rigorous, strict, stringent, uncompromising
   related: close, conscientious, exact, fussy, meticulous, painstaking, punctilious, scrupulous, undeviating, adamant, adamantine, determined, dogged, firm, relentless, resolved, single-minded, steadfast, stubborn, tenacious, unbending, unflinching, immovable, implacable, unappeasable, unrelenting, unsparing, unyielding, austere, demanding, flinty, grim, hard, hardened, hard-hearted, harsh, ironbound, severe, stern, tough
   opposite: flexible, lax, loose, relaxed, slack
   near: acquiescent, compliant, compromising, pliable, pliant, relenting, yielding, easy, easygoing, gentle, indulgent, kindly, lenient, merciful, mild, pampering, soft, spoiling, tolerant, neglectful, negligent, remiss, slipshod, sloppy, slovenly, unfussy

2. given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint

   "a rigid man who cannot seem to relax"

   similar: austere, authoritarian, flinty, hard, harsh, heavy-handed, ramrod, rigorous, severe, stern, strict, tough
   related: demanding, exacting, uncharitable, unforgiving, adamant, adamantine, callous, hardened, hard-hearted, hard-line, immovable, implacable, inflexible, merciless, ossified, pitiless, relentless, rock-ribbed, stiff, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unsparing, unyielding, dour, gruff, ascetic, monastic, monkish, browbeating, bullying, determined, firm, resolved, single-minded, steadfast, unflinching, dogged, intractable, obstinate
   opposite: clement, forbearing, gentle, indulgent, lax, lenient, tolerant
   near: easy, easygoing, laid-back, undemanding, charitable, kind, merciful, mild, patient, soft, softhearted, accepting, compromising, yielding, responsive, willing, acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, complaisant, compliant, flexible, pliable, pliant

3. having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure

   "rigid steel bars that should be able to hold the weight"

   similar: compact, firm, hard, solid, stiff, unyielding
   related: case-hardened, compacted, compressed, hardened, indurated, stiffened, tempered, close, dense, heavy, thick, thickset, inelastic, inflexible, ramrod, unbending, condensed, adamantine, rocklike, sturdy, substantial, impenetrable, impermeable, nonporous
   opposite: flabby, soft, spongy, squashy, squishy
   near: loose, scattered, thin, bendable, elastic, flexible, malleable, pliable, pliant, supple, droopy, flaccid, floppy, lank, limp, slack, airy, light, permeable, porous, ultrasoft

4. incapable of or highly resistant to bending

   "corsets, those rigid undergarments for women, must have been murder to wear"

   similar: inflexible, stiff, stiffened, unyielding
   related: inelastic, firm, hard, solid, sound, strong, brittle, crisp, compact, dense, substantial, arthritic, rheumatic, nonelastic, nonmalleable
   opposite: flexible, floppy, pliable, pliant, supple, yielding
   near: elastic, resilient, springy, stretchy, workable, malleable, plastic, semiflexible, droopy, flabby, flaccid, mushy, semisoft, soft, squashy, squishy, lank, limber, limp, lissome, lithe, lithesome, willowy

5. stretched with little or no give

   "make sure that the clothesline is rigid so that the longer garments don't drag on the ground"

   similar: taut, tense, tight
   related: firm, inflexible, stiff, tightened, unrelaxed, unyielding
   opposite: lax, loose, slack
   near: drooping, droopy, flaccid, floppy, hanging, lank, limp, loosened, relaxed, sagging, slackened, yielding, elastic, flexible, pliant, resilient, springy, stretchy, supple