sturdy

¹

[stur-dee]

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

[stur-dee]

noun

Veterinary Pathology.

1. gid.

sturdy

¹

/ ˈstɜːdɪ /

adjective

1. healthy, strong, and vigorous

2. strongly built; stalwart

sturdy

²

/ ˈstɜːdɪ /

noun

1. vet science another name for staggers gid

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of sturdy¹

C13 (in the sense: rash, harsh): from Old French estordi dazed, from estordir to stun, perhaps ultimately related to Latin turdus a thrush (taken as representing drunkenness)

Origin of sturdy²

C17: from _sturdy ¹ (in the obsolete sense: giddy)

Example Sentences

Ragsdale is considering making a video to share about how she assembled her sturdy, reusable sign.

Read more on Salon

Earlier this year, authorities announced plans to phase out bamboo in favour of sturdier, fire-resistant steel, citing bamboo's combustibility and deterioration over time.

Read more on BBC

From there we hopscotched to Chile, up to Mexico City, and then out to Alaska’s remote Aleutian Chain, where a sturdy, generous band of believers make their living off the Bering Sea.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Upstairs in the Broad’s permanent collection galleries is Therrien’s 1994 “Under the Table,” an Instagram favorite that’s an almost exact replica of his studio’s kitchen table, surrounded by six sturdy wooden chairs.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

One of the better crime thrillers of the year, it was—along with “Boots,” “Task,” “Landman” and “Death by Lightning”—the kind of sturdy American stuff that didn’t insult one’s intelligence.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bulky 
• hearty 
• hulking 
• muscular 
• powerful 
• robust 
• rugged 
• stiff 
• stout 
• strapping 
• strong