What does strenuousness mean?
Strenuousness is a formal noun meaning the quality of being strenuous, or demanding intense effort. It can describe the physical difficulty of an activity, such as a demanding climb or exercise, but it can also refer metaphorically to the severity of circumstances, responsibilities, or moral challenges. The related adjective strenuous is much more common in everyday use: one may describe a task, exercise, debate, or effort as strenuous. Strenuousness itself tends to appear in literary, academic, or formal writing, where its noun form suits an abstract discussion of difficulty and effort. The word may suggest not merely effort but effort that is demanding, sustained, and often uncomfortable. It is useful when the focus is on the character of a demanding experience rather than on the action itself.
nounThe quality or condition of being strenuous, especially of requiring intense physical effort, strenuous activity, or determined effort.
- The quality or condition of being strenuous; arduousness or demandingness.
"The strenuousness of the training was eased by the team's support for one another."
"The strenuousness of the climb was made worthwhile by the view from the summit."
"Her essay examines the strenuousness of political life in a period of conflict."
Usually used as an uncountable noun; the plural form is uncommon.
"The novel explores different forms of human strenuousness."
Strenuousness names the quality of effort that leaves no room for ease: the word turns the forceful idea of being strained into an abstract noun.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does strenuousness come from?
Strenuousness is formed in English by adding the suffix -ness to strenuous. Strenuous comes through French from Latin stēnsus, meaning drawn tight or strict, ultimately related to stringere, “to draw tight” or “bind.” The same Latin root is reflected in English words such as stringent, strict, constrict, and restriction.
Related word forms
How strenuousness is actually used
Formal and relatively uncommon. It is chiefly literary or academic, and it usually appears in abstract discussions of effort, difficulty, physical exertion, or moral intensity.
Easily confused with strenuousness
Strenuous is the adjective describing something that demands intense effort, whereas strenuousness is the noun for the quality or condition of being strenuous.