hardihood

noun

har·​di·​hood ˈhär-dē-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce hardihood (audio)
1
a
: resolute courage and fortitude
b
: resolute and self-assured audacity often carried to the point of impudent insolence
2
Choose the Right Synonym for hardihood

temerity, audacity, hardihood, effrontery, nerve, cheek, gall, chutzpah mean conspicuous or flagrant boldness.

temerity suggests boldness arising from rashness and contempt of danger.

had the temerity to refuse

audacity implies a disregard of restraints commonly imposed by convention or prudence.

an entrepreneur with audacity and vision

hardihood suggests firmness in daring and defiance.

admired for her hardihood

effrontery implies shameless, insolent disregard of propriety or courtesy.

outraged at his effrontery

nerve, cheek, gall, and chutzpah are informal equivalents for effrontery.

the nerve of that guy
has the cheek to call herself a singer
had the gall to demand proof
the chutzpah needed for a career in show business

Examples of hardihood in a Sentence

the 80-year-old grandmother attributes her hardihood to having eaten a cup of yogurt every day for the past 50 years the explorers were driven by an almost reckless hardihood in the face of the unknown
Recent Examples on the Web My father had been a leading Mountaineer and would still maintain the general superiority in skill and hardihood of the Above Boys (his own faction) over the Below Boys (so were they called), of which party his contemporary had been a chieftain. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2022 There is little question that Reagan, for all his physical hardihood and strength of will, was no longer up to the task of serving a third term beginning in 1989. Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 18 Sep. 2020 And yet Andrew Johnson, with unblushing hardihood, undertook to rule them by his own power alone. Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hardihood.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of hardihood was in 1594

Dictionary Entries Near hardihood

Cite this Entry

“Hardihood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hardihood. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hardihood

noun
har·​di·​hood ˈhärd-ē-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce hardihood (audio)
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