sturdy
English · Thesaurus
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sturdy¹
- /ˈstɜːdi/ UK
- /ˈstɜrdi/ US
Rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)di
Where it comes from
From Middle English sturdy, stourdy, stordy (“bold, valiant, strong, stern, fierce, rebellious”) (perhaps influenced by Middle English sture, stoure, stor (“strong, robust, harsh, stern, violent, fierce, sturdy”); see English stour), from Old French estourdi (“dazed”), form of estourdir, originally “to daze, to make tipsy (almost drunk)” (Modern French étourdir (“to daze, to make tipsy”)), from Vulgar Latin *exturdire. Latin etymology is unclear – presumably it is ex- + turdus (“thrush (bird)”), but how this should mean “daze” is unclear. A speculative theory is that thrushes eat leftover winery grapes and thus became drunk, but this meets with objections.
Disease in cows and sheep is by extension of sense of “daze”, while sense of “strongly built” is of late 14th century, and relationship to earlier sense is less clear, perhaps from sense of a firm strike (causing a daze) or a strong, violent person.
adjective sturdier · sturdiest
- Of firm build; stiff; stout; strong. a sturdy oak tree
- Solid in structure or person. It was a sturdy building, able to withstand strong winds and cold weather.
- Foolishly obstinate or resolute; stubborn. This must be done, and I would fain see / Mortal so sturdy as to gainsay.
- Resolute, in a good sense; or firm, unyielding quality. a man of sturdy piety or patriotism
Sturdy²
Where it comes from
A nickname from Middle English stourdy (“bold, valiant, reckless”).
proper noun Sturdys
- A surname from Middle English.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: stalwart, tough, robust, hardy, stout, rugged, strong, hard-working, hard-wearing, durable, vigorous, sound, resistant, ruggedized, outmoded, outdated
Translations
Every language
adj of firm build
| Español | recio, sólido, robusto, fuerte |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 튼튼하다 teunteunhada |
| 日本語 | 頑丈な ganjō na, 丈夫な jōbu na |
| 中文 | 堅固 /坚固 jiāngù, 結實 /结实 jiēshi |
| Português | firme |
| Français | solide |
| Deutsch | robust |
| Italiano | solido, solida, robusto, quercia |
| Русский | кре́пкий krépkij, дю́жий djúžij, здоро́вый zdoróvyj, си́льный sílʹnyj |
| Tiếng Việt | kết thật |
Talk about this word "sturdy." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/sturdy. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026. sturdy. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/sturdy "sturdy." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 5, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/sturdy.Cite this
@misc{sturdy_2026,
title = {sturdy},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/sturdy},
urldate = {2026-11-05}
}
