1
as in strict
not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards
rigid enforcement of drug laws
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tough
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
a rigid man who cannot seem to relax
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hard
having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure
rigid steel bars that should be able to hold the weight
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in stiff
incapable of or highly resistant to bending
corsets, those rigid undergarments for women, must have been murder to wear
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in tight
stretched with little or no give
make sure that the clothesline is rigid so that the longer garments don't drag on the ground
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rigid
While the program itself is rigid, the individual rules offer some leeway.
—
Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 9 July 2025
Once upon a time, the leadership style of a college coach was simple: intense, demanding, rigid, focused on detail and motivating with more stick than carrot.
—Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 8 July 2025
The Tully monster lived before the dinosaurs 300 million years ago and had a fish-like body, with a long, slender proboscis that had a toothed claw and eyes on either end of a rigid rod across its back.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 8 July 2025
Online etiquette matters in these interactions, especially in Facebook buy/sell communities, which operate under informal, but rigid norms.
—Darlin Tillery, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rigid
Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 9 July 2025
Once upon a time, the leadership style of a college coach was simple: intense, demanding, rigid, focused on detail and motivating with more stick than carrot.
—Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 8 July 2025
The Tully monster lived before the dinosaurs 300 million years ago and had a fish-like body, with a long, slender proboscis that had a toothed claw and eyes on either end of a rigid rod across its back.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 8 July 2025
Online etiquette matters in these interactions, especially in Facebook buy/sell communities, which operate under informal, but rigid norms.
—Darlin Tillery, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rigid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rigid
Adjective
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For example, in sales, if a customer wants a certain number of licenses but has a strict budget, an agent can help figure out the best deal by looking at things like license count, budget limits and different contract lengths (like one-, two- or three-year terms).—
Ian Gotts,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
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Anna Marson, a former Tuscany regional minister who now teaches urban planning at a university in Venice, was closely involved in putting forward a plan to impose stricter environmental regulations on the region’s marble quarries in 2014.—
Meara Sharma,
The Dial,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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The tougher policy changes are adding to the minors’ trauma, advocates say.—
Nicol León,
AZCentral.com,
22 July 2025
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Stellantis' loss, versus a 5.6 billion euro net profit a year earlier, underscores the tough challenges for new CEO Antonio Filosa, who was appointed in May after a disastrous performance in the company's crucial U.S. market in 2024 forced the ouster of former boss Carlos Tavares.—
Giulio Piovaccari,
Freep.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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Sandoval has received some pay bumps, including a temporary $10,000-a-year bonus for Hawaii special education teachers designed to alleviate shortages in that and other hard-to-staff areas.—
Alia Wong,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2023
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The five-year commemoration of that day is particularly hard for Jennifer, who usually shies away from talking publicly about her loss.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2023
Adjective
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Meanwhile, beat cream and powdered sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, 2 to 4 minutes.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
20 July 2025
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This in turn can boost the blood flow, speed up healing, and helps ease discomfort in stiff joints.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025
Adjective
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But the party was especially focused on reforming public finance, calling for strict economy in expenditures and even tighter limits on taxation.—
Joseph Thorndike,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
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Kick your legs in small up-and-down fluttering motions while keeping your lower back flat and abs tight throughout.—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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Ozzy Osbourne shared 3 children with first wife Thelma Riley The father of six children over two marriages, Osbourne has been vocal about how rigorous touring and alcohol use affected his family life.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
23 July 2025
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The 22-year-old flew to the United States and went through the DCC’s rigorous tryouts, eventually becoming one of six new rookies to join the 36-member squad, out of thousands who auditioned.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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While Western democracies debate environmental reviews and grid reliability, authoritarian systems can rapidly direct energy flows to computing infrastructure.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
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North Korea is under sanctions from the United States — as well as the United Nations and several other countries — largely in response to the isolated authoritarian state's weapons programs.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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Yeah, that’s because Danny is a really nice, solid guy who usually has everyone’s back.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
23 July 2025
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These meteors are relatively faint, without persistent trains or fireballs, but there will be solid chances of seeing this shower during the early morning hours this year.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rigid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rigid. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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