robust

adjective

rō-ˈbəst How to pronounce robust (audio)
Definition of robustnext
1
as in healthy
enjoying health and vigor a robust and sturdy toddler

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in energetic
having active strength of body or mind a robust older man who still bicycles 10 miles a day

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in rich
having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor) beef and other red meats should be accompanied by robust wines

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in strong
not showing weakness or uncertainty a robust slap on the back welcoming me to the company

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word robust distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of robust are hale, healthy, sound, well, and wholesome. While all these words mean "enjoying or indicative of good health," robust implies the opposite of all that is delicate or sickly.

a lively, robust little boy

When would hale be a good substitute for robust?

Although the words hale and robust have much in common, hale applies particularly to robustness in old age.

still hale at the age of eighty

When can healthy be used instead of robust?

The meanings of healthy and robust largely overlap; however, healthy implies full strength and vigor as well as freedom from signs of disease.

a healthy family

When is sound a more appropriate choice than robust?

The words sound and robust are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sound emphasizes the absence of disease, weakness, or malfunction.

a sound heart

When is it sensible to use well instead of robust?

In some situations, the words well and robust are roughly equivalent. However, well implies merely freedom from disease or illness.

she has never been a well person

When might wholesome be a better fit than robust?

The words wholesome and robust can be used in similar contexts, but wholesome implies appearance and behavior indicating soundness and balance.

a face with a wholesome glow

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 robust Boasberg said that even in the case of foreign fighters captured during the war on terrorism and held in Guantanamo Bay, there was a robust review of whether or not the accused were members of al-Qaida. — Jasmine Garsd, NPR, 21 Mar. 2025 Wealthier states with robust tax revenues might manage to fill some gaps, but states with limited resources could struggle, potentially exacerbating educational inequities. — Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025 There are various screening spaces at the University of Colorado Boulder, whose own robust film program, which offers training in cinema studies and filmmaking, could provide an ample student volunteer body as well as other partnership opportunities. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 20 Mar. 2025 In parallel, there are concerns regarding a robust supply-chain as drivers are in short supply; this will be exerbated going forward due to the country’s low birth rate. — Richard Bishop, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for robust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for robust
  1. healthy
  2. energetic
  3. rich
  4. strong
  5. sturdy
  6. dynamic
  7. potent
  8. solid
Adjective
  • Less than a week before the season opener, 38 healthy players remain in camp.
    — Dennis Lin, The Athletic, 22 Mar. 2025
  • The current ideal of a healthy, comfortable coupling has not been essential to the survival of the species.
    — Jaron Lanier, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
Definition of healthy
Adjective
  • MoMA’s 2024 book Inventing the Modern celebrates the museum’s female founders—Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, Lillie P. Bliss, and Mary Quinn Sullivan—and the energetic idealism required to get these efforts off the ground in an often hostile culture.
    — Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Impressions of the week: This was a fantastic week in Paris — energetic and full of strong debuts.
    — Rhonda Richford, WWD, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of energetic
Adjective
  • But the advent of name, image and likeness earnings for college athletes threw yet another roadblock at Johnson’s attempt to establish an identity and maintain some continuity, as programs with richer collectives lured key players away.
    — Dave Campbell, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Tariffs are about making America rich again and making America great again.
    — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of rich
Adjective
  • According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.
    — Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023
  • This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.
    — National Geographic, National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023
Definition of strong
Adjective
  • This romantic number takes design direction from a field of blooming cornflowers and is a pitch-perfect match for ballet flats, a treasured pair of kitten heels, or even sturdy and dependable white sneakers — looking flawless in each and every context.
    — Stacia Datskovska, WWD, 15 Mar. 2025
  • The exterior is made from a sturdy and durable polycarbonate material that won’t easily wear and tear, even after longhaul travel.
    — Megan Schaltegger, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of sturdy
Adjective
  • While intuition and experience play a role, relying solely on instinct and past knowledge is no longer sufficient in today’s dynamic business environment.
    — Brent Gleeson, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Impressions of the week: A very dynamic week with a lot of shows, presentations, trade shows and showrooms with worldwide talents, from ready-to-wear to accessories.
    — Rhonda Richford, WWD, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of dynamic
Adjective
  • Benzene on the other hand is a highly potent carcinogen and is dangerous through ingestion, skin absorption inhalation and injection.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
  • However, the most potent M&A storytelling combines all three.
    — Valerie Chan, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of potent
Adjective
  • Still, in a game that featured an abundance of high-level basketball, even a solid game from Brown might have been enough.
    — Jay King, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The silver lining was that even though COST didn’t reclaim its all-time, 2022 highs until December 2023, short-term oversold conditions still led to solid buying opportunities along the way.
    — Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of solid

Browse Nearby Words

robust
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Robust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/robust. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on robust

Nglish: Translation of robust 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

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

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

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

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

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

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
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
dog-in-disguise
Rhyme Disguise Quiz Pair up words that look different but sound alike.
See All