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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective vigorous contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of vigorous are energetic, lusty, nervous, and strenuous. While all these words mean "having or showing great vitality and force," vigorous further implies showing no signs of depletion or diminishing of freshness or robustness.

as vigorous as a youth half his age

Where would energetic be a reasonable alternative to vigorous?

Although the words energetic and vigorous have much in common, energetic suggests a capacity for intense activity.

an energetic campaigner

In what contexts can lusty take the place of vigorous?

While the synonyms lusty and vigorous are close in meaning, lusty implies exuberant energy and capacity for enjoyment.

a lusty appetite for life

When is it sensible to use nervous instead of vigorous?

In some situations, the words nervous and vigorous are roughly equivalent. However, nervous suggests especially the forcibleness and sustained effectiveness resulting from mental vigor.

full of nervous energy

When can strenuous be used instead of vigorous?

The synonyms strenuous and vigorous are sometimes interchangeable, but strenuous suggests a preference for coping with the arduous or the challenging.

the strenuous life on an oil rig

Examples 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 vigorous In 1903 the vigorous, curious president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, visited California for two weeks. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025 After vigorous testing on sealed and dirt roads, the Solterra used no more than 20% of its battery capacity over a dynamic 50-mile run. Matthew MacConnell, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025 Simmer chili: Bring to a vigorous simmer over high. Elizabeth Mervosh, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2025 Stay inside as much as possible and avoid vigorous physical activity when outdoors. Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 10 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for vigorous 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vigorous
Adjective
  • The tone of the film also matched Aubrey so much as an artist, and her energetic match was so perfect to me.
    Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025
  • The model of leaning on external policing, rather than paid fact-checking, takes a page from the policies adopted by X under the control of Elon Musk, who bought the platform formerly known as Twitter in 2022 and has since emerged as one of Trump’s most energetic — and influential — supporters.
    Mike Lillis, The Hill, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The insulation will keep you warm in below-zero temperatures, while the sturdy rubber soles will prevent you from slipping and sliding on icy terrain.
    Genevieve Cepeda, Travel + Leisure, 26 Jan. 2025
  • Loftin Hall itself, the former student dining hall where the museum is housed, is noteworthy on its own, with beautiful Mexican tiles and sturdy wooden beams.
    Pam LeBlanc, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • With how aggressive Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has been on fourth down, Fangio has to treat third down like second down.
    Ted Nguyen, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
  • So far, investors have been relieved President Donald Trump has backed away from aggressive, across-the-board tariffs during his first days in office.
    Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.
    Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023
  • This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.
    National Geographic, National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023
Adjective
  • Built on the robust AWS [Amazon Web Services] platform, Orme ensures that customer data remains entirely under the brand’s control.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, WWD, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Wells Fargo was rewarded for its robust quarterly profits and rosy outlook , closing out the week as the portfolio’s second-best holding, up 10.2%.
    Zev Fima, CNBC, 21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Temperature and Humidity Mountain mint is a hardy perennial that can thrive in cold temperatures and hot, humid summers in Zones 4-8.
    Lauren David, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Jan. 2025
  • These hardy perennials will thrive in outdoor pots well into zone 6. Boxwood Botanical Name: Buxus species and hybrids Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade Soil Type: Moist, well-draining Soil pH: Neutral (6.5-7.5) Boxwoods are hard-working shrubs, providing rich color and year-round structure.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • After years of electric vehicles dominating the overall new car buzz (if not sales), hybrids made a strong, emphatic comeback in 2024.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Jan. 2025
  • For three straight weeks, the Chargers have shared emphatic high fives in their celebratory post-game locker room.
    Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • When Peter stepped foot and he was focused on Jesus, that water was solid as ground.
    Martine Thompson, Essence, 23 Jan. 2025
  • That’s a good thing because the brand with the signature bright green paint has lasted decades for a reason - their product is solid.
    Josh Max, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near vigorous

Cite this Entry

“Vigorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vigorous. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on vigorous

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