Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

sturdy

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of sturdy

1 able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure
  • it took a sturdy person to endure the life of a pioneer
Synonyms of sturdy

cast-iron, hard, hard-bitten, hardened, hardy, inured, rugged, stout, strong, tough, toughened, vigorous
Words Related to sturdy

flinty, leathery, resilient, stalwart

durable, enduring, everlasting, immortal, imperishable, lasting, permanent, stable, staunch (also stanch), staying, tenacious, unyielding

flourishing, prospering, thriving

able-bodied, brawny, muscular

fit, fortified, hale, healthy, husky, lusty, red-blooded, robust, sound, strapping, virile

annealed, seasoned, tempered
Near Antonyms of sturdy

emasculated, enervated, enfeebled, exhausted, run-down, sapped, wasted, weakened, worn, worn out

crippled, debilitated, diseased, incapacitated, infirm, unsound

fragile, frail, puny

resistless, sensitive, susceptible, unresistant, vulnerable, yielding

mortal, perishable, temporary, transient
Antonyms of sturdy

delicate, nonhardy, soft, tender, weak
2 marked by the ability to withstand stress without structural damage or distortion
  • wear sturdy boots because we will be going over sharp rocks and uneven terrain
Synonyms of sturdy

bombproof, fast, firm, sound, stable, stalwart, strong
Words Related to sturdy

dependable, durable, reliable

infrangible, irrefragable, unbreakable

beefy, solid

cohesive, tough
Near Antonyms of sturdy

infirm, insecure, weak

shaky, tottering, tottery, unbalanced, wobbly (also wabbly)

unsubstantial
Antonyms of sturdy

rickety, unsound, unstable, unsteady
3 not showing weakness or uncertainty
  • youʼll need a sturdy grasp of the concepts of algebra before you can take calculus
Synonyms of sturdy

firm, forceful, hearty, iron, lusty, robust, solid, stout, strong, vigorous
Words Related to sturdy

hard, ironclad, mighty, powerful, tough, unyielding

animated, brisk, energetic, frisky, jaunty, jazzy, lively, peppy, perky, spirited, sprightful, sprightly, springy, vital, vivacious, zippy

assured, certain, confident, sanguine, secure, sure
Near Antonyms of sturdy

feeble, fragile, frail

limp, listless, spiritless

diffident, insecure, self-doubting

characterless, effete, frail, spineless, weakened, weak-kneed, wimpy, wishy-washy
Antonyms of sturdy

uncertain, weak

Synonym Discussion of sturdy

strong, stout, sturdy, stalwart, tough, tenacious mean showing power to resist or to endure. strong may imply power derived from muscular vigor, large size, structural soundness, intellectual or spiritual resources.
    • strong arms
    • the defense has a strong case
stout suggests an ability to endure stress, pain, or hard use without giving way.
    • stout hiking boots
sturdy implies strength derived from vigorous growth, determination of spirit, solidity of construction.
    • a sturdy table
    • people of sturdy independence
stalwart suggests an unshakable dependability.
    • stalwart environmentalists
tough implies great firmness and resiliency.
    • a tough political opponent
tenacious suggests strength in seizing, retaining, clinging to, or holding together.
    • tenacious farmers clinging to an age-old way of life

Learn More about sturdy

  1. See words that rhyme with sturdy Dictionary: Definition of sturdy Medical Dictionary: Definition of sturdy Spanish Central: Translation of sturdy Nglish: Translation of sturdy for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sturdy for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up sturdy? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

teetotaler

someone who never drinks alcohol

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. cache BuzzFeed reports on Trump-Cohen documents.

  2. intransigence, intransigent Trump cancels Davos trip.

  3. white supremacist Steve King discusses views.

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games