fortitude

for·ti·tude

noun \ˈfȯr-tə-ˌtüd, -ˌtyüd\

Definition of FORTITUDE

1

: strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage

2

obsolete : strength

Examples of FORTITUDE

1. She has endured disappointments with fortitude and patience.
2. <it was only with the greatest fortitude that the Pilgrims were able to survive their first winter in Plymouth>
3. … everyone in the family was succored by Elizabeth's fortitude and steadfastness. —Nicholas Fox Weber, The Clarks Of Cooperstown, 2007
4. But now Frum, by having the fortitude to revisit that bizarre era, has half-persuaded me that the '70s, a partial negation of the '60s, in one way, were a partial confirmation of them in another. —Christopher Hitchens, Civilization, April/May 2000
5. He learned that war was a hurly-burly of violence in which men prevailed through imagination and the fortitude to struggle on despite reverses. —Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 1988

Origin of FORTITUDE

Middle English, from Latin fortitudin-, fortitudo, from fortis

First Known Use: 12th century

Related to FORTITUDE

Synonyms

backbone, constancy, fiber, grit, grittiness, guts, intestinal fortitude, pluck, spunk

Antonyms

spinelessness

Related Words

determination, purposefulness, resoluteness, resolution; bravery, courage, courageousness, daring, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, gallantry, greatheartedness, intrepidity, intrepidness, nerve, stoutness, valor; endurance, forbearance, stamina, sufferance, tolerance; heart, mettle, spirit; audacity, boldness, brass, cheek, chutzpah (also chutzpa or hutzpah or hutzpa), effrontery, gall, hardihood, nerve, nerviness, temerity

Near Antonyms

indecisiveness, irresoluteness, irresolution, vacillation; cowardice, cowardliness, cravenness, dastardliness, faintheartedness, pusillanimity, timidity, timorousness

Rhymes with FORTITUDE

altitude, amplitude, aptitude, attitude, certitude, comfort food, consuetude, crassitude, desuetude, finger food, finitude, gratitude, habitude, hebetude, interlude, lassitude, latitude, longitude, magnitude, mansuetude, multitude, negritude, platitude, plenitude, promptitude, pulchritude, quietude, rectitude, seminude, servitude, solitude, turpitude, vastitude