Rigorous
adjective /ˈrɪɡ.ər.əs/ — Extremely thorough and careful
Definition
Characterised by great thoroughness, precision, and consistent application of strict standards — refusing to allow shortcuts or exceptions that might compromise accuracy.
Beyond the definition
The quality of thought that doesn't settle for approximately right. Rigorousness is how intellectual honesty shows itself in practice.
Origin & history
From Latin 'rigor' (stiffness, strictness, severity) — from 'rigere' (to be stiff). Something rigorous holds its shape without bending to convenience.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The analysis was rigorous — every assumption stated, every inference justified.
Rigorous is not the same as difficult. It means complete: no important question left unasked.
She respected the rigorous thinkers even when she disagreed with their conclusions.
Synonyms
thorough, meticulous, strict, exacting, precise
Antonyms
lax, careless, sloppy, superficial
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Expert chef preparing vegetables
An adult chef at a stainless steel prep station juliennes vegetables with sharp, precise, and highly efficient movements.
The chef’s work is rigorous, characterized by a refusal to allow for imprecise cuts or inefficient movements. The stainless steel environment demands a consistent application of strict standards, ensuring the final result is perfectly executed through absolute thoroughness.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration