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Synonyms

sturdy

1 American  
[stur-dee] / ˈstɜr di /

adjective

sturdier, sturdiest

  1. strongly built; stalwart; robust.

    sturdy young athletes.
    Synonyms:
    powerful, strong, stout, sinewy, brawny, muscular, hardy
    Antonyms:
    weak

  2. strong, as in substance, construction, or texture.

    sturdy walls.

  3. firm; courageous; indomitable.

    the sturdy defenders of the Alamo.
    Synonyms:
    unconquerable, determined, vigorous, resolute

  4. of strong or hardy growth, as a plant.

sturdy 2 American  
[stur-dee] / ˈstɜr di /

noun

Veterinary Pathology.

  1. gid.

sturdy 1 British  
/ ˈstɜːdɪ /

adjective

  1. healthy, strong, and vigorous

  2. strongly built; stalwart

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
sturdy 2 British  
/ ˈstɜːdɪ /

noun

  1. vet science another name for staggers gid

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • sturdied adjective
  • sturdily adverb
  • sturdiness noun
  • unsturdily adverb
  • unsturdiness noun

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”

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.

At a sturdy 100-minute runtime, “Hag” blows past pastiche at every turn, doing laps around the thriller genre’s conventions and tropes.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

In the unlikely event the deal is delayed, Janus would pay its shareholders a $1 dividend each quarter, keeping the return profile sturdy.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Not only does the Ellisons’ gamble look less sturdy, but so do their sources of backup.

From Slate • Mar. 20, 2026

"When we got there, there was little information," said Gareth Williams, deputy team leader who said that the path where Leah fell was "sturdy".

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

He braced his sturdy little legs against the ground.

From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt

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.