Standard Lemma guide

rigorousness

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The property of being rigorous, strictness.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

excessive sternness

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • severity of character
  • the harshness of his punishment was inhuman
  • the rigors of boot camp

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: severity, severeness, harshness, rigor, rigour, rigourousness, inclemency, hardness, stiffness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: sternness, strictness

3

noun

Meaning 3

something hard to endure

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the asperity of northern winters

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: asperity, grimness, hardship, rigor, rigour, severity, severeness, rigourousness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: difficulty, difficultness

Narrower terms: sternness

History

Etymology

From Middle English rigoresnes, rigoresnesse, rigorousenes, equivalent to rigorous + -ness.