rigorous
/ˈrɪɡ(ə)rəs
/adjective
1Extremely thorough and careful: the rigorous testing of consumer products...
- Her approach to film is not unlike that of photography: careful composition, rigorous planning of the frame, scrupulous attention to visual detail and regular use of a stationary camera.
- Analysis of results was extremely rigorous, and the dissertation was also noteworthy for its clarity of presentation, with complex results presented in a logical and understandable manner.
- He has not provided any rigorous analysis or even detailed explanation of these alleged technical problems.
Synonyms
meticulous, punctilious, conscientious, careful, diligent, attentive, ultra-careful, scrupulous, painstaking, exact, precise, accurate, correct, thorough, studious, exhaustive, mathematical, detailed, perfectionist, methodical, particular, religious, strict;
fussy, fastidious, hair-splitting, finicky, finical, demanding, exacting, pedantic
informal nitpicking, pernickety
North American informal persnickety
archaic nice, overnice, laborious
1.1(Of a rule, system, etc.) strictly applied or adhered to: rigorous controls on mergers...
- Such a culture, based on the most rigorous rules of court etiquette and procedure, naturally gave rise to correspondingly formalised aesthetic theories of music and the theatre.
- Over the past year, 180 solutions has attempted to clean up its image and now enforces rigorous rules on its affiliates and has added safeguards into its software.
- Any bottle of champagne has to follow a very rigorous set of rules to qualify for the ‘champagne’ label.
1.2(Of a person) adhering strictly to a belief or system: a rigorous teetotaller...
- When there's four of us, we are very rigorous in what we allow through.
- He is rigorous in his methods: if a picture needs a caption to explain it, he believes it has failed.
- The rigorous self-discipline of the Presbyterian work ethic, however, did not grip the Kane household.
1.3Harsh and demanding: many of the expedition had passed rigorous SAS courses...
- Charter schools, higher standards, rigorous demands on teachers, and smaller class size, he writes, are all diversions, aimed at keeping us from striking at the real heart of the problem.
- University is difficult enough with rigorous course work, steep fees and social demands, but try to imagine attending while severely disabled.
- The challenge then became to be physically competent enough to cope with the rigorous demands of filming, and to cut a suitably believable action hero.
Synonyms
harsh, severe, bad, bleak, extreme, inclement;
unpleasant, disagreeable, foul, nasty, filthy;
stormy, blustery, squally, wild, tempestuous, storm-tossed, violent, heavy, heaving, raging, choppy, agitated
Derivatives
rigorousness
- The very rigorousness and severity of its religious and ethical code of conduct have contributed to its resilience and survival as a minority in all parts of India.
- He prefaces them with introductory essays that paint a vivid picture of an assertive faith characterized by ‘emotionalism, ecstasy, rigorousness, exuberance, and evangelism.’
- Users should look seriously at their document repository requirements before embarking to make sure that the rigorousness of the tools selected provides the rigorousness they need.
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French rigorous or late Latin rigorosus, from rigor 'stiffness' (see rigor1).