RIGIDITY

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

I. (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The quality of being rigid and rigorously severe

Synonyms:

inflexibility; rigidity; rigidness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("rigidity" is a kind of...):

unadaptability (the inability to change or be changed to fit changed circumstances)

Derivation:

rigid (incapable of compromise or flexibility)

rigidify (make rigid and set into a conventional pattern)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The physical property of being stiff and resisting bending

Synonyms:

rigidity; rigidness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("rigidity" is a kind of...):

inelasticity (the lack of elasticity)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "rigidity"):

inflexibility; inflexibleness (a lack of physical flexibility)

Derivation:

rigid (incapable of or resistant to bending)

rigidify (make rigid and set into a conventional pattern)

rigidify (become rigid)

Credits

Context examples:

A progressive disorder of the nervous system marked by muscle tremors, muscle rigidity, decreased mobility, stooped posture, slow voluntary movements, and a mask-like facial expression.

(Parkinson's Disease, NCI Dictionary)

It is a precancerous condition and results in rigidity of the jaws and inability of the affected individual to open the mouth.

(Oral Cavity Submucous Fibrosis, NCI Thesaurus)

It is characterized by fever, muscular cramps and rigidity, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, and changes in the mental status that may lead to coma.

(Neuroleptic malignant syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)

In spite of the maturity of his years and of the savage rigidity of the mould that had formed him, his nature was undergoing an expansion.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

A type of schizophrenia characterized by abnormality of motor behavior which may involve particular forms of stupor, rigidity, excitement or inappropriate posture.

(Catatonic Type Schizophrenia, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

Diminished responsiveness characterized by trancelike states and by rigidity of muscles; patient tends to remain in any position in which he is placed.

(Catalepsy, NIH CRISP Thesaurus)

As Holmes drew the curtain I was aware, from some little rigidity and alertness of his attitude, that he was prepared for an emergency.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

This repetitive and compulsive behavior is associated with cognitive rigidity or an impairment in cognitive flexibility – an inability to adapt to new situations or new rules.

(Deep brain stimulation may significantly improve OCD symptoms, University of Cambridge)

Inactivation of PBPs interferes with the cross-linkage of peptidoglycan chains necessary for bacterial cell wall strength and rigidity.

(Amdinocillin, NCI Thesaurus)

Signs and symptoms include progressive motor disturbances, muscle spasm and rigidity, dysarthria, mental deterioration, and behavioral changes.