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Synonyms

vigorous

American  
[vig-er-uhs] / ˈvɪg ər əs /

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 British  
/ ˈvɪɡərəs /

adjective

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

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

    vigorous growth

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See active.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of vigorous

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They compared overall physical activity levels with how much of that activity was vigorous, then tracked participants' risk of developing eight major diseases over time.

From Science Daily

“We are now in the process of gathering all the facts and look forward to presenting a vigorous defense on behalf of Mr. Keenan.”

From Los Angeles Times

The company’s plan has sparked vigorous debate internally over the potential risks.

From The Wall Street Journal

The economy can still grow at a vigorous pace even if it’s not adding net jobs, analysts say, so long as businesses retain most employees and layoffs stay low.

From MarketWatch

But inaction went poorly with her vigorous personality and one morning to everyone’s surprise she appeared for breakfast in the dining room precisely at 8:10, with the announcement that doctors were often wrong.

From Literature