Rigorous — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Rigorous (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

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

   "a rigorous football coach who pushes his players to their physical and mental limits"

   similar: austere, authoritarian, flinty, hard, harsh, heavy-handed, ramrod, rigid, 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

2. meeting the highest standard of accuracy

   "a rigorous analysis of the data"

   similar: accurate, close, delicate, exact, fine, hairline, mathematical, pinpoint, precise, refined, spot-on
   related: correct, right, strict, true, definite, definitive, nice, subtle, careful, fastidious, finical, finicky, meticulous
   opposite: coarse, imprecise, inaccurate, inexact, rough
   near: approximate, round, false, incorrect, untrue, wrong, careless, loose, indefinite, unclear, vague, doubtful, dubious, questionable, unreliable, untrustworthy

3. not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards

   "a rigorous diet and exercise regimen"

   similar: brassbound, cast-iron, exacting, hard-line, inflexible, rigid, 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

4. requiring considerable physical or mental effort

   "studied for umpteen months for the rigorous exam"

   similar: arduous, Augean, backbreaking, challenging, demanding, difficult, effortful, exacting, formidable, grueling, hard, heavy, hellacious, herculean, killer, laborious, moiling, murderous, pick-and-shovel, rough, rugged, severe, stiff, strenuous, sweaty, tall, testing, toilsome, tough, uphill
   related: abstract, abstruse, complex, complicated, elusive, hairy, insoluble, intricate, involved, knotty, opaque, problematic, recondite, serious, spiny, stubborn, thorny, ticklish, tricky, bruising, burdensome, exhausting, labored, onerous, oppressive, stressful, taxing, tight, trying, annoying, bothersome, distressing, irksome, troublesome, vexatious, grievous, grim, strict, stringent, brutal, cruel, inhuman, painful
   opposite: cheap, easy, effortless, facile, light, mindless, simple, soft, undemanding
   near: achievable, clear, doable, elementary, manageable, uncomplicated, comforting, gentle, painless, relaxed, smooth, soothing, accessible, friendly, idiotproof, user-friendly