rigid
adjective
rig·id ˈri-jəd 
1
a
: deficient in or devoid of flexibility
rigid price controls
a rigid bar of metal
b
: appearing stiff and unyielding
his face rigid with pain
2
a
: inflexibly set in opinion
b
: strictly observed
adheres to a rigid schedule
3
: firmly inflexible rather than lax or indulgent
a rigid disciplinarian
4
: precise and accurate in procedure
rigid control of the manufacturing process
5
of an airship : having the outer shape maintained by a fixed framework
rigidly adverb
rigidness noun
Synonyms
- brassbound
- cast-iron
- exacting
- hard-line
- inflexible
- rigorous
- strict
- stringent
- uncompromising
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The patient's legs were rigid. He is a rigid disciplinarian.
Recent Examples on the Web These professional pressures are exacerbated for working women—over half of South Korea’s female population are in the workforce—who are expected to do all of the above, but also adhere to rigid beauty standards and take care of the home and family. 
Yvonne Lau, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2022 The celebrity style machine, with its rigid standards of beauty and glamor, are being challenged by confident women who want to express a sense of themselves through clothes. Rachel Tashjian, Harper's BAZAAR, 28 Mar. 2022 Clearly, not everyone agrees that setting more rigid sustainability standards and submitting to outside oversight is a good idea for business. Cassie Werber, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2022 The Foonf is easy to install with a rigid LATCH and has an array of safety features including an anti-rebound bar and advanced side impact protection. Jamie Spain, Good Housekeeping, 6 Sep. 2022 The officers then sent a police dog into the bathroom, where Wang was holding what investigators described as a sharp, rigid piece of metal about 2-feet long and 2-inches wide, according to Steffen. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 The Thunderbolt then sent a rigid-hulled inflatable boat to cut the tow line. Courtney Kube, NBC News, 30 Aug. 2022 Are the trolling, memes and weird song title capitalizations a necessary part of drawing attention to an art form that’s pretty rigid and far removed from TikTok sound bites? Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 30 Aug. 2022 Until the late 1950s, many linguists had dismissed sign language as a poor substitute for spoken language, a rigid, imprecise system of gestures that left no room for nuance. BostonGlobe.com, 29 Aug. 2022 See More
Yvonne Lau, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2022 The celebrity style machine, with its rigid standards of beauty and glamor, are being challenged by confident women who want to express a sense of themselves through clothes. Rachel Tashjian, Harper's BAZAAR, 28 Mar. 2022 Clearly, not everyone agrees that setting more rigid sustainability standards and submitting to outside oversight is a good idea for business. Cassie Werber, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2022 The Foonf is easy to install with a rigid LATCH and has an array of safety features including an anti-rebound bar and advanced side impact protection. Jamie Spain, Good Housekeeping, 6 Sep. 2022 The officers then sent a police dog into the bathroom, where Wang was holding what investigators described as a sharp, rigid piece of metal about 2-feet long and 2-inches wide, according to Steffen. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 The Thunderbolt then sent a rigid-hulled inflatable boat to cut the tow line. Courtney Kube, NBC News, 30 Aug. 2022 Are the trolling, memes and weird song title capitalizations a necessary part of drawing attention to an art form that’s pretty rigid and far removed from TikTok sound bites? Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 30 Aug. 2022 Until the late 1950s, many linguists had dismissed sign language as a poor substitute for spoken language, a rigid, imprecise system of gestures that left no room for nuance. BostonGlobe.com, 29 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English rigide, from Latin rigidus, from rigēre to be stiff
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
rigid
adjective
rig·id ˈri-jəd
1
: not flexible : stiff
rigid plastic
2
: strict sense 2, severe
rigid discipline
Medical Definition
rigid
adjective
rig·id ˈrij-əd
: deficient in or devoid of flexibility : characterized by stiffness
rigid muscles
rigid
adjective
1
as in strict
not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards rigid enforcement of drug laws Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- strict
- rigorous
- inflexible
- stringent
- uncompromising
- exacting
- steadfast
- adamant
- conscientious
- meticulous
- hard-line
- brassbound
- unbending
- cast-iron
- stubborn
- relentless
- punctilious
- undeviating
- scrupulous
- determined
- unyielding
- tough
- tenacious
- painstaking
- unflinching
- close
- exact
- immovable
- stern
- adamantine
- implacable
- harsh
- firm
- hardened
- fussy
- unrelenting
- resolved
- dogged
- austere
- severe
- demanding
- single-minded
- ironbound
- hard
- unsparing
- grim
- flinty
- unappeasable
- hard-hearted
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- flexible
- loose
- lax
- relaxed
- slack
- compliant
- pliable
- pliant
- easy
- soft
- acquiescent
- gentle
- mild
- lenient
- yielding
- tolerant
- easygoing
- indulgent
- merciful
- kindly
- compromising
- sloppy
- negligent
- slovenly
- slipshod
- neglectful
- relenting
- remiss
- spoiling
- pampering
- unfussy
2
as in tough
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint a rigid man who cannot seem to relax Synonyms & Similar Words
- strict
- tough
- authoritarian
- harsh
- rigorous
- stern
- hard
- hardened
- severe
- relentless
- austere
- merciless
- gruff
- flinty
- steadfast
- ramrod
- relentless
- demanding
- inflexible
- stiff
- heavy-handed
- unbending
- unyielding
- adamant
- unforgiving
- uncompromising
- immovable
- determined
- exacting
- ossified
- implacable
- pitiless
- ascetic
- callous
- unrelenting
- adamantine
- bullying
- dour
- uncharitable
- monastic
- monkish
- unsparing
- unflinching
- hard-line
- firm
- obstinate
- intractable
- rock-ribbed
- ascetical
- resolved
- dogged
- hard-hearted
- browbeating
- single-minded
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lax
- gentle
- lenient
- easy
- tolerant
- indulgent
- soft
- easygoing
- forbearing
- mild
- kind
- clement
- patient
- flexible
- undemanding
- charitable
- merciful
- accepting
- responsive
- softhearted
- compliant
- pliable
- compromising
- willing
- yielding
- laid-back
- pliant
- agreeable
- amenable
- acquiescent
- complaisant
3
as in stiff
having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure rigid steel bars that should be able to hold the weight Synonyms & Similar Words
- stiff
- hard
- compact
- solid
- thick
- unyielding
- compressed
- heavy
- dense
- compressed
- firm
- stiffened
- inflexible
- sturdy
- compacted
- unbending
- hardened
- tempered
- indurated
- inelastic
- condensed
- thickset
- ramrod
- rocklike
- adamantine
- impermeable
- close
- case-hardened
- substantial
- impenetrable
- nonporous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- soft
- thin
- flexible
- loose
- spongy
- flabby
- elastic
- malleable
- pliable
- pliant
- scattered
- floppy
- supple
- squishy
- flaccid
- slack
- limp
- porous
- light
- bendable
- squashy
- permeable
- droopy
- airy
- lank
- ultrasoft
4
as in inflexible
incapable of or highly resistant to bending corsets, those rigid undergarments for women, must have been murder to wear Synonyms & Similar Words
- stiff
- inflexible
- stiffened
- solid
- brittle
- unyielding
- strong
- dense
- compact
- hard
- sound
- crisp
- inelastic
- firm
- substantial
- arthritic
- rheumatic
- nonelastic
- nonmalleable
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- flexible
- pliable
- floppy
- elastic
- pliant
- supple
- workable
- resilient
- plastic
- malleable
- stretchy
- yielding
- springy
- soft
- flaccid
- semiflexible
- flabby
- mushy
- squishy
- droopy
- limp
- squashy
- lithe
- limber
- willowy
- lank
- lithesome
- lissome
- lissom
- semisoft
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- tight
- taut
- tightened
- inflexible
- stiff
- tense
- unyielding
- unrelaxed
- firm
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- loose
- lax
- slack
- flexible
- floppy
- flaccid
- relaxed
- hanging
- elastic
- limp
- loosened
- sagging
- resilient
- yielding
- droopy
- pliant
- lank
- supple
- springy
- slackened
- stretchy
- drooping
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of rigid are rigorous, strict, and stringent. While all these words mean "extremely severe or stern," rigid implies uncompromising inflexibility.
rigid rules of conduct
The synonyms rigorous and rigid are sometimes interchangeable, but rigorous implies the imposition of hardship and difficulty.
the rigorous training of recruits
The words strict and rigid can be used in similar contexts, but strict emphasizes undeviating conformity to rules, standards, or requirements.
strict enforcement of the law
Although the words stringent and rigid have much in common, stringent suggests severe, tight restriction or limitation.
stringent standards of admission