sturdy
1 Americanadjective
-
strongly built; stalwart; robust.
sturdy young athletes.
- Antonyms:
- weak
-
strong, as in substance, construction, or texture.
sturdy walls.
-
firm; courageous; indomitable.
the sturdy defenders of the Alamo.
- Synonyms:
- unconquerable, determined, vigorous, resolute
-
of strong or hardy growth, as a plant.
noun
adjective
-
healthy, strong, and vigorous
-
strongly built; stalwart
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of sturdy1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English stourdi, from Old French estourdi “dazed, reckless, stunned, violent,” past participle of estourdir “to daze, stun,” of disputed origin; perhaps ultimately from Latin ex- ex- 1 ( def. ) + a verb derivative of torpidus “numb,” turbus “disturbed,” or turdus “thrush”
Origin of sturdy2
First recorded in 1560–70; noun use of sturdy 1 in obsolete sense “giddy”
Explanation
Describe something that is firmly constructed or strongly made as sturdy. That house you built was not sturdy at all. It blew down in the last wind storm. Fortunately, it was only a dog house and the dog wasn't in it. Physical strength and robust health can also be described as sturdy. Your grandmother is pushing 80, but she is still pretty sturdy if she can beat you at tennis. The adjective sturdy can also describe something (or someone) determined, firm, stalwart, and steady. Hopefully, you and your siblings have a sturdy relationship, so you can withstand all the bickering over who gets to ride shotgun in the car.
Vocabulary lists containing sturdy
The Cay
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Beowulf vocabulary
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Vigorous Vocab: Synonyms for "Strong"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The fossil includes unusually large canine and premolar teeth, molars with rounded and strongly textured chewing surfaces, and a particularly sturdy jaw.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 2026
This knowledge supplies his screenplay with a sturdy base on which he crafts his story of parasocial fixation and all its consequences.
From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026
“There was a fairly sturdy and necessary wall between the Justice Department and the White House,” Clarke said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
"There was a sturdy bang on the door," Angharad says.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
The bridge was narrow but sturdy over the river.
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
That’s what expanding breadth looks like, as a bull market supported by several sectors is much sturdier than one balanced on a tower of parabolic semiconductor stocks.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
One consisted of fragile, dusty material, while the other was made of sturdier clumps that formed very early in hotter regions before spreading throughout the disk.
From Science Daily ● May 26, 2026
It is a somewhat dubious honor, but the new incumbent sits on a much sturdier throne than the previous one.
From Barron's ● Feb. 23, 2026
The woman said in the suit that Rubin requested she replace her saline implants with silicone, since that was a sturdier material.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 18, 2026
The building had reinforced concrete walls on the upper floor, making it a sturdier structure that would be able to hold more gas before the system failed.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
Identifying the sturdiest pairing is another decision that could prove pivotal as England and Tuchel aim for a strong start to their campaign.
From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026
The Bottom Line: Airline stocks are infamously volatile; if you’re going to take a flier, go for the sturdiest.
From Barron's ● Apr. 12, 2026
The sturdiest defense in the league has allowed just 22 goals in 29 games, the club’s attack has outscored 18 other teams this season.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 1, 2026
The afternoon’s big winner was “Train Dreams,” the little movie that could, one that emerged 13 months ago at Sundance 2025 and is now proving itself to be one of Netflix’s sturdiest Oscar contenders.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 16, 2026
And Meir Katz, the strong one, the sturdiest of us all, began to cry.
From "Night" by Elie Wiesel
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
