NYT Dictionary

RIGOUR

/ˈɹɪɡə(ɹ)/
NounREEGUHRCollege

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2021, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

Severity or strictness.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

From Middle English rigour, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French rigor, from Latin rigor (“stiffness, rigidity, rigor, cold, harshness”), from rigere (“to be rigid”). Compare French rigueur.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

cogencyvalidityrigorasperitygrimnesshardshipseverityseverenessrigorousnessrigourousness

NYT Puzzle Appearances

No published puzzle dates on file for this word yet. It is part of the official NYT Spelling Bee word list for 2021, 2024, 2025, 2026.

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