vigorous

adjective

ˈvi-g(ə-)rəs How to pronounce vigorous (audio)
Definition of vigorousnext
1
as in energetic
having active strength of body or mind he remains healthy and vigorous despite being over 80 years old

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2
as in sturdy
able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure vigorous and sturdy little sheep bred to live in mountainous regions

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3
as in aggressive
marked by or uttered with forcefulness offered a vigorous dissent to the proposal

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4
as in strong
not showing weakness or uncertainty gave the bottle of sauce a vigorous shaking

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective vigorous contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of vigorous are energetic, lusty, nervous, and strenuous. While all these words mean "having or showing great vitality and force," vigorous further implies showing no signs of depletion or diminishing of freshness or robustness.

as vigorous as a youth half his age

Where would energetic be a reasonable alternative to vigorous?

Although the words energetic and vigorous have much in common, energetic suggests a capacity for intense activity.

an energetic campaigner

In what contexts can lusty take the place of vigorous?

While the synonyms lusty and vigorous are close in meaning, lusty implies exuberant energy and capacity for enjoyment.

a lusty appetite for life

When is it sensible to use nervous instead of vigorous?

In some situations, the words nervous and vigorous are roughly equivalent. However, nervous suggests especially the forcibleness and sustained effectiveness resulting from mental vigor.

full of nervous energy

When can strenuous be used instead of vigorous?

The synonyms strenuous and vigorous are sometimes interchangeable, but strenuous suggests a preference for coping with the arduous or the challenging.

the strenuous life on an oil rig

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vigorous Regular vigorous exercise improves sleep, but even just 10 minutes of movement daily can help. —Elizabeth Barnes, Verywell Health, 19 Mar. 2025 Bandolero lantanas from Syngenta are bred to have larger flowers, more vigorous growth, and lots of branching on compact plants. —Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Mar. 2025 About 70 percent of the sounds were accompanied by a calm, swaying body movement, while 25 percent came with vigorous thrashing of the head or body. —Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025 Most countries have accounting standards less rigorous than those in the U.S., and less vigorous enforcement of those standards. —John Dorfman, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vigorous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vigorous
  1. energetic
  2. sturdy
  3. aggressive
  4. strong
  5. robust
  6. hardy
  7. emphatic
  8. solid
Adjective
  • He's been a warrior, always bouncing back to his energetic self.
    — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Claudine’s vibe is welcoming and the lunch crowd is energetic.
    — Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of energetic
Adjective
  • It’s built from a sturdy metal base with a solid wood and plywood frame and has a swivel design that rotates 360 degrees.
    — Megan Schaltegger, People.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Linus Ullmark’s sturdy play in net is a major plus.
    — Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of sturdy
Adjective
  • Young has struggled against the Heat’s aggressive defense in recent years.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The prison has become a symbol of Bukele's aggressive policies that have targeted gang violence.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.
    — Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023
  • This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.
    — National Geographic, National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023
Definition of strong
Adjective
  • This compact security camera offers exceptional value and robust features in a tiny design.
    — Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025
  • However, clamp mounts have a robust design and are suitable for road and mountain riding.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of robust
Adjective
  • Foliage remains evergreen in locations where plants are winter hardy.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Balancing hardy explorer capabilities with a design that’s fresh and elegant, the brand new M will be a hot topic at the upcoming show.
    — Katia Damborsky, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of hardy
Adjective
  • The former 154-pound champion started putting the building blocks back in place to make a run back at a world title with an emphatic fourth-round TKO win over Joey Spencer.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Houston was plenty impressive in its own right last weekend, squeaking by Purdue (4) before suffocating Tennessee (2) in an emphatic 69-50 Elite Eight win.
    — Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of emphatic
Adjective
  • It’s also cleverly engineered to do double duty: compost solid scraps and collect compost tea, a potent liquid fertilizer prized by plant lovers.
    — Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Center Cooper Beebe provided solid reliability in his rookie season, but how far does his ceiling reach?
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of solid

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Cite this Entry

“Vigorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vigorous. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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