HARDIHOOD Synonyms: 162 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'hardihood' different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of hardihood are audacity , cheek , chutzpah , effrontery , gall , nerve , and temerity . While all these words mean "conspicuous or flagrant boldness," hardihood suggests firmness in daring and defiance. // admired for her hardihood

Q: When is 'audacity' a more appropriate choice than 'hardihood'?

The words audacity and hardihood are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, audacity implies a disregard of restraints commonly imposed by convention or prudence. // an entrepreneur with audacity and vision

Q: When might 'effrontery' be a better fit than 'hardihood'?

The words effrontery and hardihood can be used in similar contexts, but effrontery implies shameless, insolent disregard of propriety or courtesy. // outraged at his effrontery

Q: How does the word 'nerve' relate to other synonyms for 'hardihood'?

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

Q: Where would 'temerity' be a reasonable alternative to 'hardihood'?

In some situations, the words temerity and hardihood are roughly equivalent. However, temerity suggests boldness arising from rashness and contempt of danger. // had the temerity to refuse

hardihood

noun

ˈhär-dē-ˌhu̇d

Definition of hardihood

as in vigor

active strength of body or mind the 80-year-old grandmother attributes her hardihood to having eaten a cup of yogurt every day for the past 50 years

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in courage

strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger the explorers were driven by an almost reckless hardihood in the face of the unknown

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word hardihood different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of hardihood are audacity, cheek, chutzpah, effrontery, gall, nerve, and temerity. While all these words mean "conspicuous or flagrant boldness," hardihood suggests firmness in daring and defiance.

admired for her hardihood

When is audacity a more appropriate choice than hardihood?

The words audacity and hardihood are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, audacity implies a disregard of restraints commonly imposed by convention or prudence.

an entrepreneur with audacity and vision

When might effrontery be a better fit than hardihood?

The words effrontery and hardihood can be used in similar contexts, but effrontery implies shameless, insolent disregard of propriety or courtesy.

outraged at his effrontery

How does the word nerve relate to other synonyms for hardihood?

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

Where would temerity be a reasonable alternative to hardihood?

In some situations, the words temerity and hardihood are roughly equivalent. However, temerity suggests boldness arising from rashness and contempt of danger.

had the temerity to refuse

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of hardihood 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 Someone died today in Virginia in a racial terrorist attack, and our President had the audacity, the hardihood to continue to hew to the line of dog whistling racist dogma. — Angela Helm, The Root, 12 Aug. 2017

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardihood

Noun

As Doo-sik, Squid Game’s Park Hae-soo is delivering the show’s defining performance with such vigor and charisma that Stone’s hand is, whether intentionally or not, tipped.

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
Garden mum expert QiuXia Chen explains that the differences between potted mums and garden mums relate to their flower size, branching, flowering times, plant habit, and vigor.

— Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of vigor

Noun

If the old Ernest Hemingway adage holds true, that courage equals grace under pressure, then Anna May Wong (1905-1961) had it in spades.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
Looking back, Branagh says aside from speaking with Filkins, the film gave him a deeper appreciation of the courage required to listen and to hear and to stay in the room.

— Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of courage

Noun

Kanin says as much as 58% of energy consumed by industrial processes can be lost as waste heat.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
Speakers noted the Republican nominee's oil and gas investments as the energy sector amasses profits while the Iran war drives up fuel costs.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of energy

Noun

Galeo’s practical inventions and growing trust in his sister offer a different path to bravery than the one his village has taught him.

— Ed Meza, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026
Kyrie Irving is criticizing ESPN‘s lack of bravery for not naming Hind Rajab, a young Palestinian war victim, in a social media post about Irving’s public offer to pay an NFL player’s fine for paying tribute to Rajab during a football game.

— Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of bravery

Noun

In World Cup lore, however, his gallantry is doomed to be overshadowed by that of his fellow-goalkeeper from Cabo Verde, Vozinha, who had already produced an uncanny impersonation of a brick wall on the fourth day of the tournament.

— Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
In all of these cases, the effect is largely the same—forging intimacy through some level of generosity or gallantry, coupled with pure, physical proximity—and in 2026, all of them are still technically possible.

— Sara Delgado, Vogue, 9 July 2026

Definition of gallantry

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hard-heartedness

hardihood

hardily

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“Hardihood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardihood. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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