1
as in strict
not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards
rigid enforcement of drug laws
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tough
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
a rigid man who cannot seem to relax
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3
as in hard
having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure
rigid steel bars that should be able to hold the weight
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4
as in stiff
incapable of or highly resistant to bending
corsets, those rigid undergarments for women, must have been murder to wear
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5
as in tight
stretched with little or no give
make sure that the clothesline is rigid so that the longer garments don't drag on the ground
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rigid
Before the season comes to a close, a lunar eclipse in Virgo will activate your stability-seeking second house of comfort, values and personal resources, signaling a time to release rigid ways of thinking along with monetary habits that no longer serve you or align with your worth.
—
Valerie Mesa, People.com, 18 Feb. 2025
Context: Black and Latino families are fighting school inequality by filing lawsuits, challenging rigid school boundaries and pushing for more resources to poor districts, as previously reported by Axios' senior race and justice reporter Russell Contreras.
—April Rubin, Axios, 15 Feb. 2025
Among the women’s looks featured are the new relaxed trouser, the body contour collection of tops, and 50/50 rigid stretch jeans (with a rigid-front and stretch-back design).
—Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 7 Feb. 2025
As linguists and geneticists continue to untangle the origins of Indo-European languages, one thing is clear—the story of language is one of movement, change and cultural exchange, far from the rigid, nationalist narratives of the past.
—Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rigid
Valerie Mesa, People.com, 18 Feb. 2025
Context: Black and Latino families are fighting school inequality by filing lawsuits, challenging rigid school boundaries and pushing for more resources to poor districts, as previously reported by Axios' senior race and justice reporter Russell Contreras.
—April Rubin, Axios, 15 Feb. 2025
Among the women’s looks featured are the new relaxed trouser, the body contour collection of tops, and 50/50 rigid stretch jeans (with a rigid-front and stretch-back design).
—Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 7 Feb. 2025
As linguists and geneticists continue to untangle the origins of Indo-European languages, one thing is clear—the story of language is one of movement, change and cultural exchange, far from the rigid, nationalist narratives of the past.
—Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rigid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rigid
Adjective
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The state, through the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD), mandates that health care facilities meet strict seismic safety standards.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
16 Feb. 2025
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Congress can revise eligibility for welfare benefits and impose stricter time limits, alleviating the cost to taxpayers and reducing incentives to enter the country illegally.—
Betsy McCaughey,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Ties during Trump’s first term One of the hallmarks of the first Trump Administration was a tougher stance towards China compared to his predecessors, through tit-for-tat tariffs and an Indo-Pacific strategy that aimed to curb Beijing’s growing influence in the Western Pacific.—
Chad de Guzman,
TIME,
27 Feb. 2025
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How to Bet Timberwolves vs. Lakers Following up a game like Tuesday's would be tough for the Wolves under any circumstances, but with Edwards battling a calf injury and DiVincenzo potentially sidelined, beating the Lakers in L.A. will be that much more difficult.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Sandoval has received some pay bumps, including a temporary $10,000-a-year bonus for Hawaii special education teachers designed to alleviate shortages in that and other hard-to-staff areas.—
Alia Wong,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2023
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The five-year commemoration of that day is particularly hard for Jennifer, who usually shies away from talking publicly about her loss.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2023
Adjective
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And farmers who voted for Trump, who are now being stiff (ph).—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2025
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Then, clean the area with a bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) or a vinegar solution (1 part vinegar to 3 parts water) and a stiff brush.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The Brits handed their prize to Conclave, which feels like the favorite here, too, since the pacing of its papal politicking is as tight as a drum.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2025
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As a result of the super cycle, MRO facility capacity — already under pressure, particularly for engines — will remain tight, with long queues and increased turnaround times for aircraft and components.—
Oliver Wyman,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Using rigorous logical frameworks and Turing-computable methods, BigGraph ensures trustworthy, adaptable outcomes that align with business needs.—
Jason Phillips,
USA TODAY,
15 Feb. 2025
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That is thanks to many decades of rigorous bank supervision and regulation, as well as federal deposit insurance.—
Felix Salmon,
Axios,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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My Favourite Cake has incurred the wrath of Iran’s authoritarian Islamic Republic regime due to the fact that Farhadpour is shown without a headscarf, while her character is also seen seeking companionship with an equally lonely widower and drinking wine with him.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
19 Feb. 2025
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But by ceding global leadership to authoritarian China, Trump is creating a world that will almost certainly be hostile to the United States, its prosperity, and its people.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Many of them can do a solid imitation of the Dikembe Mutombo finger wag.—
Daniel Brown,
The Athletic,
16 Feb. 2025
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United rewarded two solid seasons with a Homegrown U-22 contract, then sold him to Colorado.—
Braidon Nourse,
The Denver Post,
16 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rigid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rigid. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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