1
as in vigorous
marked by or uttered with forcefulness
parents who voiced strenuous objections to the new textbooks
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2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
a strenuous workout on the obstacle course
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Recent Examples of strenuous
But once the request for qualification statements was posted, some of those providers raised strenuous objections.
—
Suzanne King, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026
As their bond strengthens under strenuous circumstances, the actors’ performances evolve with the characters.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
This makes for a 6-mile strenuous round-trip.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Both Hall and Burbank recommended aiming for a mix of both moderate and strenuous movements in your own exercise routine.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strenuous
Suzanne King, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026
As their bond strengthens under strenuous circumstances, the actors’ performances evolve with the characters.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
This makes for a 6-mile strenuous round-trip.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Both Hall and Burbank recommended aiming for a mix of both moderate and strenuous movements in your own exercise routine.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strenuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strenuous
Adjective
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Benign conditions like an enlarged prostate, prostatitis (inflammation), recent ejaculation, vigorous exercise or even a long bike ride can temporarily push your PSA up.—
Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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Federal guidelines recommend 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week, with some sort of muscle-strengthening exercise on two days.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Training and case management through FRAP is supposed to help attorneys deal with what Clegg calls a difficult area of law.—
Raynee Howell,
Oklahoma Watch,
9 Feb. 2026
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Will this race and the other changes create an opportunity for NASCAR to turn the page on its difficult 2025?—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In the meantime, an unstable government could become more rather than less aggressive, not least to keep younger hard-liners from rebelling.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Feb. 2026
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Wiener helped push two new California laws last year — the No Secret Police Act and the No Vigilantes Act — in the wake of intense and aggressive immigration enforcement by masked ICE and other federal agents in California and around the country.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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There are more advanced, and challenging techniques, like slicing or chipping for more bulbs.—
Clarence Schmidt,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
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This is not complicated or challenging music, and at times the chord progressions are simple enough to make one yearn for a bit more spikiness.—
Daniel Bromfield,
Pitchfork,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Now polling suggests the public, and even Republican leaders in Congress, have stopped buying the White House’s claims that federal agents’ paramilitary-style raids only target violent criminals.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
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The takeover of the arts is less violent and a bit more insidious, but just as dangerous in its own right.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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These athletes spend their lives focusing on building physical strength through rigorous training and diets that are honed to provide the nutrients necessary to excel at their sport.—
Emily Hemendinger,
The Conversation,
13 Feb. 2026
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Every mortgage article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of financial products.—
Kelsey Neubauer,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Chris Seibert was emphatic in his praise of Stangel, the rest of the staff and the players.—
Michael Osipoff,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
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The Seahawks, coming off a dramatic NFC Championship Game victory over Stafford and the Rams, were clearly the NFL’s best team this season, and their Super Bowl triumph served as an emphatic validation.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Most importantly, Alvarado relishes in his role as a tough-nosed, point-of-attack defender, an area the Knicks have had trouble despite building a roster with notable defenders across all positions.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
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With a durable and tough rubber sole featuring Vibram's TC5+ technology, each step offers the right amount of flex and resistance for a comfortable hiking experience.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strenuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strenuous. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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