strenuous

adjective

ˈstren-yə-wəs How to pronounce strenuous (audio)
Definition of strenuousnext
1
as in vigorous
marked by or uttered with forcefulness parents who voiced strenuous objections to the new textbooks

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort a strenuous workout on the obstacle course

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective strenuous contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of strenuous are energetic, lusty, nervous, and vigorous. While all these words mean "having or showing great vitality and force," strenuous suggests a preference for coping with the arduous or the challenging.

the strenuous life on an oil rig

When is energetic a more appropriate choice than strenuous?

The words energetic and strenuous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, energetic suggests a capacity for intense activity.

an energetic campaigner

In what contexts can lusty take the place of strenuous?

Although the words lusty and strenuous have much in common, lusty implies exuberant energy and capacity for enjoyment.

a lusty appetite for life

When could nervous be used to replace strenuous?

While in some cases nearly identical to strenuous, nervous suggests especially the forcibleness and sustained effectiveness resulting from mental vigor.

full of nervous energy

When might vigorous be a better fit than strenuous?

The meanings of vigorous and strenuous largely overlap; however, vigorous further implies showing no signs of depletion or diminishing of freshness or robustness.

as vigorous as a youth half his age

Example 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 strenuous For this, the wider technology industry still has a strenuous battle to fight, though the value is slowly starting to materialize. —Dr. Sai Balasubramanian, M.d., Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025 After the operation, I wouldn’t be allowed to lift anything remotely heavy or do any strenuous activity for four to six weeks. —Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, 7 Apr. 2025 Emergency physician and CrossFit coach Dr. Heather L Hinshelwood provided her insight on this kind of strenuous activity for Newsweek. —John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025 Democracy is a discipline, like diet and exercise, strenuous and irksome. —David Bezmozgis, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for strenuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strenuous
  1. vigorous
  2. difficult
  3. aggressive
  4. challenging
  5. violent
  6. rigorous
  7. emphatic
  8. tough
Adjective
  • One study showed that a maximum reduction in mortality could result from 150 to 300 minutes per week of vigorous activity, 300 to 600 minutes per week of moderate physical activity, or a combination of these.2 2.
    — Amy Kwan, Verywell Health, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Advocates of vigorous government oversight look upon the concept of federal preemption as a tool of deregulation.
    — Glenn G. Lammi, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Definition of vigorous
Adjective
  • The Whitecaps won games in Mexico, which is difficult to do.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
  • The task for Denver tonight will be that much more difficult if Michael Porter Jr. (shoulder) is unavailable or limited.
    — Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • The prison has become a symbol of Bukele's aggressive policies that have targeted gang violence.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Young has struggled against the Heat’s aggressive defense in recent years.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • Despite a challenging period for many luxury labels, in October, reports indicated LOEWE’s sales had increased 27.5% YoY. In March, long-time Creative Director Jonathan Anderson left the label, and Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez were appointed.
    — Seth Matlins, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Deriving the mesoscopic from the microscopic, on the other hand, has been much more mathematically challenging.
    — Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of challenging
Adjective
  • The ads target the state House Democrats over taxes and violent crime, as well as women’s and girl’s safety.
    — Julia Manchester, The Hill, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Angry Birds: Climate Change and Avian Migration Olivia Box April 3, 2022 Temperature fluctuations throughout the years are affecting bird migration and mating, with sometimes violent results.
    — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 22 Apr. 2025
Definition of violent
Adjective
  • Every personal finance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of personal finance products.
    — Keagan Ostop, CNBC, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Although seeking refugee protection might come to mind, qualifying for refugee protection involves a complex, rigorous process that involves meeting a multi-pronged legal test.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of rigorous
Adjective
  • The Mavericks, on the other hand, are coming off an emphatic road win over the Kings.
    — Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Catcher Rob Brantly fielded Josh Bell’s dribbler, stepped on home plate and fired the ball to first, ending the threat and eliciting an emphatic fist pump from Quantrill.
    — Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of emphatic
Adjective
  • Over the next two years, Muhammad rang up five more victories against progressively tougher competition.
    — Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • González also supports a tough stance on crime but has criticized Noboa’s use of foreign military contractors.
    — Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of tough

Browse Nearby Words

strengthens
strenuous
strenuously
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Strenuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strenuous. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on strenuous

Nglish: Translation of strenuous for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Words You Always Have to Look Up

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular

See More

Words You Always Have to Look Up

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All