strenuous

adjective

ˈstren-yə-wəs How to pronounce strenuous (audio)
Definition of strenuousnext
1
as in vigorous
marked by or uttered with forcefulness parents who voiced strenuous objections to the new textbooks

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort a strenuous workout on the obstacle course

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective strenuous contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of strenuous are energetic, lusty, nervous, and vigorous. While all these words mean "having or showing great vitality and force," strenuous suggests a preference for coping with the arduous or the challenging.

the strenuous life on an oil rig

When is energetic a more appropriate choice than strenuous?

The words energetic and strenuous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, energetic suggests a capacity for intense activity.

an energetic campaigner

In what contexts can lusty take the place of strenuous?

Although the words lusty and strenuous have much in common, lusty implies exuberant energy and capacity for enjoyment.

a lusty appetite for life

When could nervous be used to replace strenuous?

While in some cases nearly identical to strenuous, nervous suggests especially the forcibleness and sustained effectiveness resulting from mental vigor.

full of nervous energy

When might vigorous be a better fit than strenuous?

The meanings of vigorous and strenuous largely overlap; however, vigorous further implies showing no signs of depletion or diminishing of freshness or robustness.

as vigorous as a youth half his age

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 strenuous Limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening hours. — Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026 Even in peacetime, military training is strenuous and requires extra calories. — John Seiler, Oc Register, 25 Aug. 2026 His doctors then ordered him to take three to four weeks to recuperate, saying his shows are too physically strenuous and his recovery is complicated by his lifelong type 1 diabetes. — Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 Recovery involves four weeks of immobilization, followed by physical therapy for up to three months, with a full return to strenuous activity expected around six months post-surgery. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for strenuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strenuous
  1. vigorous
  2. difficult
  3. aggressive
  4. challenging
  5. violent
  6. rigorous
  7. emphatic
  8. tough
Adjective
  • Paramasivam’s death has fueled a vigorous protest campaign by the Commercial and Industrial Workers Union, Asia Floor Wage Alliance, Global Labor Justice and other groups.
    — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Puppies should not engage in vigorous tug-of-war games because too much tugging can create jaw or bite problems.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of vigorous
Adjective
  • The losses linked to the demise of these groups are difficult to quantify, but participants and advocates say the impacts will reverberate across federal agencies for years.
    — Katia Riddle, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Ground surveys can provide more detailed information at a particular site, but covering an entire subway corridor that way would be difficult.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • The aggressive action will be closely watched by other states and school systems.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Tour participants described an aggressive interrogation by an Israeli border agent.
    — Daniel Estrin, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • For the healthcare providers in attendance, the party — which featured games and activities for the kids — is a chance to see the real-life impact of their often emotionally challenging work.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Because of the challenging terrain, the bridges are designed to be constructed without heavy machinery.
    — Fatma Tanis, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of challenging
Adjective
  • In the days since, the incident has sparked another round of reckoning with safety for LGBTQ people in Sacramento’s Lavender Heights neighborhood, which has seen a number of violent incidents in recent years.
    — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Scientists hoped the probe would help build a geologic history of the moon to better understand its violent origins in a cosmic impact.
    — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of violent
Adjective
  • Seager's team is providing the AFN, along with their ongoing, rigorous science preparation.
    — Leonard David, Space.com, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The 2022 Nature Biotechnology review urged rigorous clinical testing, and later reviews continued to flag reliability and standardization issues.
    — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of rigorous
Adjective
  • Her inability to stay in one place, artistically speaking, all but ensures that each new project will give you life in new and emphatic ways.
    — Will Dukes, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026
  • For June Films producer Julie Billy, the attraction was emphatic.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of emphatic
Adjective
  • Space-grade electronics will cost more, and the ball’s shell—made from a material tough enough to roll over steel shards and withstand minus 184 °C temperatures—has never been evaluated in lunar extremes.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Democratic leaders face tough decisions on where to spend limited party resources to win the Senate majority.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of tough

Browse Nearby Words

strengthens
strenuous
strenuously
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Cite this Entry

“Strenuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strenuous. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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