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
Examples of rigid in a Sentence
The patient's legs were rigid.
He is a rigid disciplinarian.
Recent Examples on the Web
In his rejection of a rigid empiricism, moreover, Kingsley left room for intuitive and imaginative approaches to nature, and indeed to science, and refused to draw a hard line between human and nonhuman experience, instead viewing all creatures as belonging to a spectrum with no sharp boundaries.
—
Ben Woollard, JSTOR Daily, 29 Jan. 2025
The starting point for the designs was the house’s Efflorescence Jewel Handle bag with its rigid encrusted handle, whereas previous iterations were based on the Viv’ Choc model.
—Alex Wynne, WWD, 29 Jan. 2025
Don’t let the material scare you — these pants are made from a soft and stretchy material that’s far from rigid leather.
—Clara McMahon, People.com, 29 Jan. 2025
The total weight when everything else is added in – including the rigid aluminum fork – comes to 15.6 kg (34.4 lb).
—New Atlas, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rigid 
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Ben Woollard, JSTOR Daily, 29 Jan. 2025
The starting point for the designs was the house’s Efflorescence Jewel Handle bag with its rigid encrusted handle, whereas previous iterations were based on the Viv’ Choc model.
—Alex Wynne, WWD, 29 Jan. 2025
Don’t let the material scare you — these pants are made from a soft and stretchy material that’s far from rigid leather.
—Clara McMahon, People.com, 29 Jan. 2025
The total weight when everything else is added in – including the rigid aluminum fork – comes to 15.6 kg (34.4 lb).
—New Atlas, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rigid
Dictionary Entries Near rigid
Cite this Entry
“Rigid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rigid. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rigid
adjective
rig·id
ˈrij-əd 
2
a
: very fixed in one's opinion or habits : unyielding
b
: carefully observed : scrupulous
follows a rigid exercise program
3
: exact and accurate in procedure
rigidity
noun
rə-ˈjid-ət-ē
rigidly
adverb
ˈrij-əd-lē
rigidness
noun
Etymology
from Latin rigidus, "rigid," from rigēre "to be stiff" — related to rigor mortis
Medical Definition
rigid
adjective
rig·id
ˈrij-əd
: deficient in or devoid of flexibility : characterized by stiffness
rigid muscles
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