Meaning & use
rigid
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Stiff and firm, unable to bend or change shape easily.
Grammar: Used for physical things: a rigid frame, rigid plastic.
Patterns
- rigid with something
- a rigid structure
The box is made of rigid plastic that does not crush.
After the long flight my legs felt rigid.
A rigid frame keeps the tent standing in strong wind.
adjectivecomparabledisapproving
Strict and unwilling to change, as with rules, ideas or a person's habits.
Grammar: Used with abstract nouns or people: rigid rules, a rigid thinker.
Patterns
- rigid about something
- rigid in your thinking
The school has rigid rules about uniforms.
He was rigid about his morning routine and hated any change.
A rigid schedule leaves no room for surprises.
adjectiveafter a verb
Held tightly and still, usually because of fear, shock or anger.
Grammar: Usually follows be or go, often with with: rigid with fear.
Patterns
- rigid with fear
- go rigid
She sat rigid with fear as the plane shook.
His jaw went rigid when he heard the news.
The dog stood rigid, staring at the gate.
Word forms
| comparative | more rigid |
|---|---|
| superlative | most rigid |
Common combinations
- rigid rules
- The club's rigid rules discouraged new members.
- rigid structure
- The bridge relies on a rigid structure of steel.
- rigid with fear
- The child stood rigid with fear.
- rigid thinking
- Rigid thinking makes problems hard to solve.
- remain rigid
- The posture remained rigid throughout the speech.
Synonyms and how they differ
- stiff
- Stiff is milder and can be temporary, like a stiff neck, while rigid means hardly able to bend at all.
- inflexible
- Inflexible is used mostly for people and plans and is less physical than rigid.
- strict
- Strict describes rules enforced firmly, but it does not suggest being unable to bend.
- unyielding
- Unyielding is more formal and stresses refusing to give way under pressure.
Opposites
Word family
- rigidity noun
- the quality of being stiff or unwilling to change
- rigidly adverb
- in a stiff or strict way
- rigidness noun
- another word for rigidity
- rigidify verb
- to become or make something rigid
Commonly confused: rigid or rugged? rigid or rapid?
rigid vs rugged
Rugged describes rough, strong terrain or looks, while rigid means stiff and unbending.
rigid vs rapid
Rapid means fast and only sounds somewhat similar.
Practice
Her manager's ____ approach to schedules meant nobody could ever swap shifts.
Choose one answer.
Rigid describes an approach that cannot be changed. Flexible, gentle and casual all suggest the opposite or do not explain why no swaps were possible.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “rigid”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.