vigor

noun

vig·​or ˈvi-gər 

1

: active bodily or mental strength or force

2

: active healthy well-balanced growth especially of plants

3

: intensity of action or effect : force

4

: effective legal status

Synonyms

• beans
• bounce
• brio
• dash
• drive
• dynamism
• energy
• esprit
• gas
• get-up-and-go
• ginger
• go
• gusto
• hardihood
• juice
• life
• moxie
• oomph
• pep
• punch
• sap
• snap
• starch
• verve
• vim
• vinegar
• vitality
• zing
• zip

Examples of vigor in a Sentence

She defended her beliefs with great vigor.

she was picked to lead the volunteer group because of her vigor and enthusiasm

Recent Examples on the Web

But LaVine attacked this season with vigor, reshaping himself into a levelheaded leader and efficient scorer who earned quiet praise around the league. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025

Those who engage in the rotations return to their day jobs with a new vigor and set of insights that strengthen their more traditional work, according to Devgun. —Peter High, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025

Texas fascinates with its famous hubris, its huge distances, its undeniable vigor, its wealth, and its sense of always being on some kind of cutting-edge. —Llewellyn King, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025

By 2023, when Mr. DeSantis was Mr. Trump’s main rival for the Republican nomination, Ms. Wiles and her team were pursuing him with vigor. —Elisabeth Bumiller, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English vigour, from Anglo-French, from Latin vigor, from vigēre to be vigorous

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing vigor

• hybrid vigor
• vim and vigor

Kids Definition

vigor

noun

vig·​or ˈvig-ər 

1

: active strength or energy of body or mind

2

: active strength or force

Medical Definition

vigor

variants or chiefly British vigour

see hybrid vigor