1
as in strict
not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards
rigid enforcement of drug laws
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tough
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
a rigid man who cannot seem to relax
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hard
having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure
rigid steel bars that should be able to hold the weight
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4
as in stiff
incapable of or highly resistant to bending
corsets, those rigid undergarments for women, must have been murder to wear
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in tight
stretched with little or no give
make sure that the clothesline is rigid so that the longer garments don't drag on the ground
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rigid
The goal is to keep people safe, not to impose rigid burdens on businesses.
—
The Editors, Scientific American, 20 May 2025
Disregard the packet’s rigid instructions — boiling them for exactly two minutes risks either a limp, lifeless tangle or an unpleasantly chewy bite.
—The Learning Network, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Some of his more rigid and contrarian stances, such as his views on COVID vaccines, do not inspire confidence.
—Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 18 May 2025
This man isn’t defined by grand gestures or rigid gender scripts.
—Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rigid
The Editors, Scientific American, 20 May 2025
Disregard the packet’s rigid instructions — boiling them for exactly two minutes risks either a limp, lifeless tangle or an unpleasantly chewy bite.
—The Learning Network, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Some of his more rigid and contrarian stances, such as his views on COVID vaccines, do not inspire confidence.
—Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 18 May 2025
This man isn’t defined by grand gestures or rigid gender scripts.
—Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rigid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rigid
Adjective
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Under the measure's broad scope and strict distance limits, few areas in Ohio would remain open to such purchases.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
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Every lens test follows strict real-world testing, where every feature and all functions are tested to assess overall performance.—
James Abbott,
Space.com,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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Being a careless jackass but also irresistibly charming is a tough needle to thread.—
Staff Author Published,
EW.com,
22 May 2025
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Johnson has been on a winning streak this year with Trump in the White House and backing him repeatedly to muscle through a series of very tough votes on the slimmest of majorities.—
Christian Datoc,
The Washington Examiner,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Sandoval has received some pay bumps, including a temporary $10,000-a-year bonus for Hawaii special education teachers designed to alleviate shortages in that and other hard-to-staff areas.—
Alia Wong,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2023
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That die-hard fan base in Phoenix got a taste of glory in 2021 when the Suns were up two games to none in the Finals on the Milwaukee Bucks before dropping the next four and ultimately losing the championship series.—
Max Olsan,
The Arizona Republic,
13 Feb. 2023
Adjective
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What might’ve remained two camps in stiff politeness became a collective.—
Sara Hussain,
Vogue,
22 May 2025
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Dynamic line ratings, powered by modern sensors, AI and an occasional stiff breeze, are a critical advantage.—
Erik Kobayashi-Solomon,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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The 10-member group has been tasked with providing recommendations to the council on ways to relieve the city’s tight housing market.—
Grace Hurt,
Arkansas Online,
22 May 2025
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But there are also plenty of tight binary systems, where the stars orbit each other at a radius that would place them both comfortably inside our Solar System.—
John Timmer,
ArsTechnica,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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The Bee has a rigorous policy relating to requests for anonymity.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
23 May 2025
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Hall, a former college football player, is quite the athlete and also gives fans a look into his rigorous workout regimen, which Khaled joined him for.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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But this one rush job, HB 1205, was especially dear to the governor’s authoritarian heart.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
24 May 2025
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Panahi’s film, his first since being released from prison in 2023, is a direct assault on Iran’s authoritarian regime.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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These dildos were solid and made to sit above the pubic bone, custom made to measurements provided by purchasers, who were often men.—
Mikelle Street,
Them.,
23 May 2025
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Per Deadline Hollywood, which first reported the cancellation, viewership for season 3 was still solid but the show slipped out of Nielsen's Top 10 Originals chart quicker than its predecessors, and the decision to cancel ultimately came down to the show's hefty price tag.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rigid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rigid. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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