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 But critics have noted that trust has begun to erode as Michelin accepts cash in exchange for coverage, and accusations of AI use would further undermine the rigor and thoroughness on which Michelin has built its reputation. — Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026 Others describe the studies necessary to replicate, refute or refine these advances and ensure the necessary scientific rigor to successfully discover and develop new drugs. — Fred D. Ledley, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026 The list takes months to compile, with multiple steps and checks designed to ensure rigor and consistency. — Kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea,kelli Grant, Cfp®, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026 There’s a joy to the collection, but also a real rigor behind it. — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 8 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
  • Though the tableaux depict hardships endured by a painter born in 1593, Artemisia, the impressions convey yearning, grief, suffering and resilience that transcend centuries.
    — Tara Anne Dalbow, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Widespread civil unrest over teacher shortages and economic hardship escalated across France over the weekend as rioters clashed with police and stormed public buildings.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of hardship
Noun
  • But genuinely funny moments are rare, badly outnumbered by done-to-death musings regarding the mysteries of being alive and torturous melodramatic moments in which Klara dully absorbs the severity of Josie’s illness and Chrissy’s sorrow.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Gassman emphasized that the severity of coastal flooding will depend largely on weather conditions.
    — Ted Scouten, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of severity
Noun
  • Will those risks outweigh the benefits, especially with extremely low early-stage detection for prostate, breast, ovarian, skin, and inadequate evidence of accuracy for many other cancers?
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026
  • In laboratory tests involving 14 healthy volunteers, participants identified individual odors with 73 percent accuracy and combinations with roughly 71 percent accuracy.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of accuracy
Noun
  • Both candidates, however, closed out the campaign’s final hours promising expensive new subsidies, highlighting the political difficulties of reining in public debt, which has increased under Lula by 10 percentage points to more than 82% of GDP.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • In fact, Bolsonaro’s campaign had also requested an extension in some areas, citing difficulties voters faced reaching polling stations because of heavy rain.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of difficulty
Noun
  • The process was particularly intricate, as each interlacing detail on the bodice had to be carefully constructed by weaving hundreds of meters of rouleau and while maintaining the tension and precision of the corsetry underneath.
    — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Manufacturing breeches and breech blocks requires precision engineering and strict quality controls.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of precision
Noun
  • Having lost one daughter, Chrissy sought perfection in her remaining child, ignoring the risks of the modification procedure that have resulted in sickly Josie slowly succumbing to a chronic illness.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Counted in that giddy stretch of unexpected euphoria was actual perfection, a run from August through January without defeat, capped off with, of all ridiculous things, a national championship.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 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 28 Oct. 2026.

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