vigorous

[vig-er-uhs]

adjective

1. full of or characterized by vigor.

   a vigorous effort.

   Antonyms: weak

2. strong; active; robust.

   a vigorous youngster.

   Synonyms: healthy, sound, sturdy
   Antonyms: weak

3. energetic; forceful: a vigorous personality.

   vigorous steps;

   a vigorous personality.

   Synonyms: powerful
   Antonyms: weak

4. powerful in action or effect.

   vigorous law enforcement.

   Antonyms: weak

5. growing well, as a plant.

   Antonyms: weak

vigorous

/ ˈvɪɡərəs /

adjective

1. endowed with bodily or mental strength or vitality; robust

2. displaying, involving, characterized by, or performed with vigour

   vigorous growth

Other Word Forms

• vigorousness noun
• vigorously adverb
• overvigorous adjective
• overvigorousness noun
• supervigorous adjective
• supervigorousness noun
• unvigorous adjective
• unvigorousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vigorous¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin vigorōsus; vigor, -ous

Synonym Study

See active.

Example Sentences

Another lesson from the proposed strike: If employers won’t protect their employees from unions, it’s a signal to every red-state governor and Legislature that they need to mount a more vigorous defense of workers’ paychecks.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

“Who decides if the intellectual environment is vigorous and open-ended? This is not something the federal government should be involved in and adjudicating,” he said.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The next storm, the Iraq War, gave “The Daily Show” vigorous purpose as the hot blade slicing through the hawkish, Islamophobic spin originating from the Bush-Cheney White House, and amplified by Fox News.

Read more on Salon

The party relentlessly focused on places where they had a decent shot at winning, rather than run vigorous campaigns in every corner of the country.

Read more on BBC

His death by a single gunshot during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University last week shocked the nation and has led to vigorous debate over the motivations of his accused killer.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• active 
• brisk 
• dynamic 
• effective 
• efficient 
• forceful 
• healthy 
• intense 
• lively 
• persuasive 
• potent 
• robust 
• spirited 
• strenuous 
• strong 
• tough 
• vital 
• zealous