strenuous

/ˈstrenjuəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈstrenjuəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈstren-yə-wəs/ (ame, mw)

strenuous — adjective

  • strenuouspositive
  • more strenuouscomparative
  • most strenuoussuperlative

1. If a task, activity, or exercise is strenuous, it requires so much physical or m

1.形容詞B2
釋義

If a task, activity, or exercise is strenuous, it requires so much physical or mental energy that it makes you very tired.

例句

Dr. Okonkwo told her patients to avoid strenuous exercise for at least a month after the operation.

collocation: strenuous exercise

The rescue workers carried out a strenuous search through the ruined buildings after the earthquake.

同義詞
  • arduous

    more formal; often describes long, difficult journeys or prolonged tasks 'an arduous journey across the desert'

  • demanding

    broader; can apply to people, jobs, or situations that require a lot of effort

  • taxing

    focuses on the draining effect; suggests something wears you out over time

  • gruelling

    stronger in tone; suggests suffering or extreme hardship — more common in British English

反義詞
  • easy

    requiring little effort

  • effortless

    done without any struggle or difficulty

文法句型

strenuous + noun (exercise, work, hike, task)

be + strenuous

用法筆記

Commonly used before nouns that describe physical activities (exercise, work, hike) or mental tasks (study, research). Can also be used predicatively: 'The hike was strenuous.' The word does not describe how a person feels — it describes the activity itself.

常見錯誤

❌I felt strenuous after the run.
✅I felt exhausted after the strenuous run.
💡strenuous describes the activity, not how a person feels after doing it.
❌He is a strenuous person.
✅He enjoys strenuous activities.
💡strenuous is rarely used to describe a person's character; it describes actions, tasks, or efforts.

2. involving a determined and energetic effort, especially when facing difficulty o

2.形容詞C1
釋義

involving a determined and energetic effort, especially when facing difficulty or opposition from other people.

例句

The mayor made a strenuous effort to find shelter for every family whose home was destroyed by the flood.

collocation: strenuous effort

Senator Omari faced strenuous opposition from community leaders who disagreed with the new housing plan.

collocation: strenuous opposition

同義詞
  • vigorous

    focuses on the energy and strength put into something; slightly less intense than strenuous

  • energetic

    general; suggests liveliness rather than determined effort

  • determined

    focuses on strong intention and resolve, less on the level of energy

  • zealous

    formal; suggests passionate enthusiasm, sometimes excessively so

反義詞

文法句型

strenuous + noun (effort, opposition, objection, attempt)

用法筆記

Frequently appears in the patterns 'strenuous + noun' where the noun names a goal-directed action (effort, attempt, campaign) or a reaction to it (opposition, objection). The focus is on the vigour and determination behind the action, not the difficulty of the task.

常見錯誤

❌She made a strenuous climb up the stairs.' (when meaning a determined effort, not a physically hard climb).
✅She made a strenuous effort to climb the stairs despite her injury.
💡Use 'strenuous effort/attempt' for determination; use 'strenuous climb/exercise' for physically demanding activity.