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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 This strenuous trail is a popular spot with sweeping views of L.A. and peeps of the Hollywood sign. Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2025 That’s not to say you aren’t entitled to pursue this campaign of strenuous self-optimizing. Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025 The late shift is strenuous at the best of times, with understaffing a default state. Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Feb. 2025 And even Floria’s strenuous relationship with her children is barely an afterthought, with one scene that could conceivably serve as a pressure point offering little more than half-baked exposition. Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 17 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for strenuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strenuous
Adjective
  • Apply Three Applications a Year For a dense lawn with good green color and moderate growth—as opposed to vigorous growth that demands mowing every four to five days during optimal conditions—fertilize your lawn in late spring, late summer, and again in late fall.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Its vigorous bubble and sharp clean taste makes Agua de Piedra great on its own or as the carbonated component of a nonalcoholic drink or cocktail.
    Khushbu Shah, Bon Appétit, 10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Additionally, generative AI maintains a detailed record of its decisions, offering a level of transparency that can be difficult to achieve in human decision making.
    David Paffenholz, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The worst of this is during residency, where 80-plus hour work weeks, 24-plus hour shifts, and difficult on-call schedules are the norm.
    Christopher M. Worsham, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Though McBride — who has been subject to many aggressive comments from House Republicans since joining Congress in January — attempted to move on with the hearing, Massachusetts Rep. William Keating refused to let Self's disrespectful comment slide.
    Rachel Raposas, People.com, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Lately, SpaceX founder Elon Musk has taken an aggressive posture toward Europe.
    Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Global hiring can offer a fresh solution in these challenging times.
    James Peters, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Morgan Stanley's chief strategist anticipates a challenging few months for U.S. stocks as President Donald Trump's tariff policies continue to fuel market volatility.
    William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The Indiana Crime Guns Task Force was signed into law in 2021 and addresses violent crime in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, Johnson and Shelby counties, according to the Indiana General Assembly’s website.
    Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
  • The storm, which produced violent tornadoes, raging wildfires, and blinding dust storms, decimated homes, toppled vehicles, and left entire communities reeling from the devastation.
    Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Facing those challenges, top education officials moved to eliminate the elementary school at P.S. 76, and merge grades 6-8 with Mott Hall II, a nearby middle school that is adding a rigorous high school program.
    Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2025
  • State Department officials interview applicants and submit them to a rigorous screening that includes an FBI background check.
    Tazreena Sajjad, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The answer to that question should be an emphatic 'No,' but a majority of this court apparently thinks otherwise.
    Nina Totenberg, NPR, 5 Mar. 2025
  • The answer to that question should be an emphatic 'No,' but a majority of this Court apparently thinks otherwise.
    Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The New York Fed survey of consumer expectations showed respondents believe tougher economic conditions are ahead.
    Courtenay Brown, Axios, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Secret Service would likely have something to say about that, though the Cybertruck does have a pretty tough exterior.
    Emily Forlini, PCMAG, 11 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Strenuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strenuous. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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