vigorously
Americanadverb
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with active strength or force; energetically or powerfully: Fast food is marketed vigorously through heavy television advertising.
Combine all ingredients in the cocktail shaker and shake vigorously until the egg white is foamy.
Fast food is marketed vigorously through heavy television advertising.
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with robust health or vitality.
Many plant species that don’t do well in shaded conditions will grow vigorously in full sunlight.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of vigorously
Explanation
When you do something in a forceful or intense way, you do it vigorously. If you're trying to figure out which of your brothers ate the last of the cookies, it's probably the one who's denying it most vigorously. The adverb vigorously has the English root "vigor," which comes from the Latin word vigere, meaning to be lively or flourish. Synonyms for vigorously include energetically, forcefully, and strenuously. If you're trying to lose weight, you should eat fewer cookies and walk vigorously every day, and if you want to get your dishes really clean, you'll have to scrub them vigorously.
Vocabulary lists containing vigorously
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
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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.
"We will vigorously oppose this effort to stifle and intimidate essential reporting," Sinha said.
From Barron's • May 12, 2026
“We intend to vigorously defend Robert in this case,” Lesko said.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026
“And if anyone can be counted upon, I believe it’s her that will vigorously defend against the grave dangers and vicious attacks on freedom of expression that both museums and universities currently face.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 3, 2026
One recent 75-degree afternoon, sitting on the front stoop of the rowhouse where she lives with her dad, Burton was rubbing her hands together vigorously, as if it were cold out.
From Salon • Apr. 29, 2026
Without hesitating, they began to rub their faces vigorously, each after the other.
From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
