# strenuous

/ˈstɹɛnjuəs/ (US) · /stɹˈɛnjuːəs/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/strenuous
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

needing a lot of physical or mental effort. You use this to describe tasks that are very tiring or difficult.

For teachers: requiring or using great exertion or high intensity. Often describes physical activities or mental efforts that test the limits of one's stamina.

## Examples

- The doctor told him to avoid strenuous exercise for a week.
- After a strenuous day of hiking up the mountain, the group was exhausted but happy.
- The legal team made a strenuous effort to overturn the verdict, citing several procedural errors that occurred during the initial trial.

## Usage notes

- Commonly modifies nouns like 'exercise', 'effort', 'activity', or 'objection'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.