Basic Details
Word: Vigorous
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Strong, healthy and full of energy; also done with a lot of force or effort.
Synonyms: energetic, strong, forceful, active
Antonyms: feeble, weak, gentle
How to Spell Vigorous
Syllables: vig - or - ous
Tricky part: Vigour drops its u before -ous, so the adjective is vigorous, never vigourous. Even good spellers fall into this trap.
Watch out for: vigourous, vigerous, viggorous
Memory tip: Humour and glamour behave the same way: humorous, glamorous, vigorous. The u of -our leaves when -ous arrives.
Usage Examples
Example 1: After a vigorous game of kabaddi, the boys lay on the grass, panting.
Example 2: Give the bottle a vigorous shake before you pour the juice.
Example 3: At seventy, Nana is still vigorous enough to walk five kilometres every morning.
Fun Fact
Health experts advise children aged 5 to 17 to do vigorous activity, such as running or skipping, on at least three days a week.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
vigourous
a) u
b) g
c) r
d) o
Show answer
a) u. Vigour lets go of its u before -ous, so only one u stays, the one in the ending.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word vigorous as used in the sentence:
The coach led a vigorous warm-up before the final, and every player was sweating within minutes.
a) brisk
b) energetic
c) feeble
d) forceful
Show answer
c) feeble. A warm-up that makes everyone sweat is full of energy; a feeble one would barely raise the heartbeat.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word:
1. strenous 2. vigorous 3. endurence 4. athletick
a) needing great effort
b) the ability to keep going through something difficult
c) strong, active and full of energy
d) physically strong and fit
Show answer
c) strong, active and full of energy. Strenuous keeps the u before -ous, athletic ends in plain -ic, and endurance takes -ance.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these is vigorous exercise?
a) lying in a hammock
b) running up a hill
c) sitting on a bench
d) reading a magazine
Show answer
b) running up a hill
2. In a vigorous debate, people argue ____.
a) only in whispers
b) without any opinions
c) with energy and force
d) only in writing
Show answer
c) with energy and force
