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View synonyms for rigid

rigid

[ rij-id ]

adjective

  1. stiff or unyielding; not pliant or flexible; hard:

    a rigid strip of metal.

    Synonyms: inflexible, firm, unbending

    Antonyms: elastic

  2. firmly fixed or set.

    Synonyms: static, immovable

  3. inflexible, strict, or severe:

    a rigid disciplinarian; rigid rules of social behavior.

    Synonyms: unyielding, stern, austere

    Antonyms: lax

  4. exacting; thorough; rigorous:

    a rigid examination.

    Synonyms: demanding

  5. so as to meet precise standards; stringent:

    lenses ground to rigid specifications.

    Synonyms: demanding

  6. Mechanics. of, relating to, or noting a body in which the distance between any pair of points remains fixed under all forces; having infinite values for its shear modulus, bulk modulus, and Young's modulus.
  7. Aeronautics.
    1. (of an airship or dirigible) having a form maintained by a stiff, unyielding structure contained within the envelope.
    2. pertaining to a helicopter rotor that is held fixedly at its root.


rigid

/ ˈrɪdʒɪd /

adjective

  1. not bending; physically inflexible or stiff

    a rigid piece of plastic

  2. unbending; rigorously strict; severe

    rigid rules

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


adverb

  1. completely or excessively

    the lecture bored him rigid

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈrigidly, adverb
  • riˈgidity, noun
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Other Words From

  • ri·gidi·ty rigid·ness noun
  • rigid·ly adverb
  • over·rigid adjective
  • over·rigid·ly adverb
  • over·rigid·ness noun
  • over·ri·gidi·ty noun
  • sub·rigid adjective
  • sub·rigid·ly adverb
  • sub·rigid·ness noun
  • subri·gidi·ty noun
  • un·rigid adjective
  • un·rigid·ly adverb
  • un·rigid·ness noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of rigid1

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin rigidus, equivalent to rig(ēre) “to be stiff, stiffen” + -idus -id 4
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Word History and Origins

Origin of rigid1

C16: from Latin rigidus , from rigēre to be stiff
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Synonym Study

See strict.
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Example Sentences

Without them, it would not have been apparent that something rigid could fly.

A rigid backplate makes it easier to insert the bladder into a backpack’s hydration sleeve, even when the pack is fully loaded—but that does add some weight.

Hong Kong Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan has said they expect 5 million people to participate in the test, but Lam told reporters she has not set a “rigid target” for participation.

From Fortune

Of course, social media is a rigid place for the testing of different messages and campaigns, but multivariate testing tools have the power to deliver fully customized website experiences for traffic arriving from various social sources.

Eggs from the earliest dinosaurs were more like leathery turtle eggs than rigid bird eggs.

Beyond that, how will China evolve its rigid Internet policy?

Bound together by mutual distrust, both sides end up lashing themselves to the mast of rigid law.

Doctors are prohibited from doing what a patient needs by rigid practice guidelines.

The man behind the desk is a fictional character—a ferocious patriot exposing the limits of rigid ideology.

Or have gender roles in stories become fewer and more rigid?

In all business matters he required a rigid economy though never at the expense of efficiency.

Before her pencil he sat rigid and unflinching, as he had faced the cannon's mouth in days gone by.

Every movement rigidly prescribed, arms held rigid and sharply bent at the elbows.

The baggage is then taken to the Custom-house in a steam-launch for examination, which is not unduly rigid.

Then there was a faint pulsation of the rigid limbs, the white, mean face took on a tinge as if the blood were flowing again.

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More About Rigid

What does rigid mean?

Rigid means stiff and inflexible. It can be used in both literal and figurative ways.

For example, a material like plastic might be described as rigid if it does not bend or bend easily. A person might be described as rigid if they are very strict and unwilling to bend the rules. Rules themselves can also be described as rigid if they are very strict or rigorous, as in The boarding school had a rigid set of rules designed to keep students in line. 

When used to describe a person or their personality as inflexible, rigid is almost always used negatively, as in Try not to be so rigid—you have to learn to go with the flow sometimes.

The related noun rigidity refers to the state or quality of being rigid in both literal and figurative senses.

Example: When using heavy acrylic paints, It’s best to paint on a rigid canvas so the paint won’t bleed and the canvas will hold its shape over time.

Where does rigid come from?

The first records of the word rigid come from around the mid-1500s. It comes from the Latin rigidus, from the verb rig(ēre), meaning “to be stiff” or “to stiffen.” The word rigor and rigorous are based on the same root, as is the first part of the medical term rigor mortis, which refers to the state of the body when it becomes rigid after death.

Close synonyms of rigid are inflexible, unbending, and stiff—all of which, like rigid, can also be used in both literal and figurative ways. The opposite of rigid is flexible, and it too can be used in a literal way, such as to describe bendable materials, or in a figurative way, such as to describe a person who is willing to adapt to a situation (which a rigid person is not).

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What are some other forms related to rigid?

What are some synonyms for rigid?

What are some words that share a root or word element with rigid

 

 

What are some words that often get used in discussing rigid?

 

How is rigid used in real life?

Rigid is commonly used in both literal and figurative ways. It’s often applied to stiff materials and inflexible people.

 

 

Try using rigid!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of rigid?

A. strict
B. stiff
C. pliant
D. firm

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Rigirigid designator