Meaning 1
Strong, healthy, and full of active physical energy.
Reach for it when praising robust movement, exercise, or growth
The transplanted vines showed vigorous growth by midsummer.
Meaning 2
Forceful and energetic in thought, argument, or action.
Reach for it when describing determined activity or robust debate
A vigorous review exposed the weak assumption without delaying the repair.
| Meaning 1 | Meaning 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| everyday | ||
| warm | ||
| professional |
|
everyday
Fits when visible activity is the main point
Careful Energetic can be scattered and does not imply health or strength.
everyday
Fits when power or sound condition should be stated plainly
Careful Strength can be still, while vigorous suggests action or growth.
warm
Fits when robust health or appetite suits an informal tone
Careful Hearty sounds rustic and is wrong for technical movement or plant growth.
professional
Fits when strength under stress matters
Careful Robust can describe a static system and need not show vigorous activity.
everyday
Fits when commitment rather than force is the praise
Careful Determination can be quiet and slow, with none of vigorous action's intensity.
warm
Fits when lively feeling makes the effort engaging
Careful Spirited debate can be lighthearted and less rigorous than vigorous review.
professional
Fits when an argument or action has strong impact
Careful Forceful may sound aggressive and does not imply breadth or care.
professional
intensive
Fits when concentrated effort or scrutiny is the exact feature
Careful Intensive describes degree and can exhaust people rather than reflect healthy vigor.
vigorous exercise
Vigorous exercise is only one option for building cardiovascular health.
vigorous growth
The native grass produced vigorous growth after the first rain.
vigorous debate
Vigorous debate improved the proposal without becoming personal.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated
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