Definition of hardihoodnext
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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
  • But thanks to their reproductive vigor — females can lay up to 25,000 eggs in a single season — their numbers quickly hopped out of hand.
    Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
  • These soils regulate water uptake and naturally restrain vine vigor, encouraging small berries with thick skins.
    Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Name your values and state your boundaries, then celebrate your courage with something that restores your spark.
    Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Creative courage returns as the instinctive Moon conjoins mischievous Mercury in your 5th House of Play, urging you to express whatever stirs within.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 17 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • White House officials said the Biden-era energy efficiency mandates in HUD and Agriculture departments' guidelines could add up to $9,000 to housing construction costs.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Mar. 2026
  • This means that even if a fault-tolerant quantum computer becomes available, QPE could still struggle with large molecules because the chance of successfully extracting the correct energy becomes vanishingly small.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • When Balthy, in an act of misguided heroism, travels to Texas in an attempt to befriend Solomon and avert a possible tragedy, he is drawn into a dangerous and thrilling new world.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2026
  • This encouraging result is a testament to the heroism of Mexican forces, particularly of those who lost their lives in the line of duty, and reaffirms the effectiveness of ongoing cooperation between Mexico and the United States, including the intelligence‑sharing that supported the operation.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Family friends say the crash not only left the community heartbroken but also revealed an extraordinary act of bravery by one of the surviving children.
    Steve Large, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Mamdani thanked both men for their bravery after also recognizing them in a private meeting.
    Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • There’s a quixotic gallantry to appealing to a saner conservative and looking ahead to a post-Trump American politics.
    James Folta, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Queen Elizabeth later awarded Beaton the George's Cross, Britain’s highest civilian award for gallantry, for his role in saving her daughter’s life, and bestowed honors on Callender, as well as the other policemen and onlookers who intervened.
    Bailey Richards, People.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • That mix of stubbornness and courageousness is what endeared Snider to fans and peers alike.
    Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 15 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hardihood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardihood. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.

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