rigor

noun

ˈri-gər How to pronounce rigor (audio)
Definition of rigornext
1
as in hardship
something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal hard-bitten folk who survived many rigors on the way to the promised land

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in severity
the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism) after being coddled by his former coach, the swimmer was shocked by the rigor of the new training program

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in accuracy
the quality or state of being very accurate said that she had heard that excuse a million times, but then she was never known for the rigor of her calculations

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 rigor This can be a difficult process – especially in taking complex academic concepts and breaking them down into simpler language while keeping essential rigor and nuance. — Katrina Stack, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2026 Anderson says of the rigors of touring, the kind Bon Scott sang about in the AC/DC classic. — Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2026 Trask, who grow up under the demanding eye of father Cyrus (Tracy Letts), a one-legged Civil War hero who guides them with military rigor. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2026 Tryfman said the heavy caseload of a public defender has prepared her for the bench’s rigors. — Jon Regardie, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rigor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rigor
  1. hardship
  2. severity
  3. accuracy
  4. difficulty
  5. precision
  6. perfection
Noun
  • But they were seen as adding undue hardships to people who rely heavily on the care.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • In doing so, the report adds new data to a growing pile of information about poverty and economic hardship in the state, showing that even before some of the upcoming federal benefit cuts take effect, a growing number of households are struggling.
    — P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of hardship
Noun
  • The severity of reactions can vary widely, ranging from mild symptoms to potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Kidney Disease Can Disrupt the Balance Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can disrupt the balance of magnesium in the blood, depending on the severity.
    — MD Published, Verywell Health, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of severity
Noun
  • After my adjustments, the image offered more-than-acceptable color accuracy and contrast for casual viewing.
    — M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Collective[i] is building an economic model that forecasts commerce outcomes ahead of the fact, with accuracy already in the ninety-three to ninety-five percent range in production.
    — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of accuracy
Noun
  • Meeting its director can reveal the uncertainty, the practical difficulties, and the necessary compromises.
    — Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
  • This is still largely lost due to damage to refineries and the difficulty of exporting products by ship.
    — Mike Sheen, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of difficulty
Noun
  • Ooni’s Halo is a countertop mixer with a dual-kneading function usually seen on professional machines, plus a precision dial that allows for more control of mixing speed.
    — TIME Staff, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • High-precision lasers then scan the exterior surface at the micron level to assess its structural integrity.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of precision
Noun
  • The present ideal isn’t perfection, but a kind of rule-breaking individualism, preferably with an IYKYK spin.
    — Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Afsaneh Salari’s Tehran, Under the Skin enters Tehran’s cosmetic clinics to explore the pressures behind Iran’s widespread culture of cosmetic surgery in pursuit of physical perfection, in a conservative society that seeks to control women’s beauty.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of perfection

Browse Nearby Words

rigmarole
rigor
rigorous
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Cite this Entry

“Rigor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rigor. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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