Meaning & use
sturdy
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Strongly made, so that it does not break or fall over easily when used hard.
Grammar: Used before or after a noun: a sturdy table, or the table is sturdy.
Patterns
- sturdy enough for something
- a sturdy something
He built a sturdy shelf that could hold all his heavy books.
Wear sturdy boots for the long hike.
The old bridge is sturdy enough for trucks.
adjectivecomparable
Of a person, solidly built and strong in body, or strong in character and not easily discouraged.
Grammar: Describes people or their qualities: a sturdy child, sturdy resolve.
Patterns
- sturdy in something
The farmer was a sturdy man with broad shoulders.
She showed sturdy determination during the long recovery.
He gave a sturdy defense of his team's decision.
Word forms
| comparative | sturdier |
|---|---|
| superlative | sturdiest |
Common combinations
- sturdy construction
- The sturdy construction of the cabin kept it standing through the storm.
- sturdy shoes
- Sturdy shoes are essential for rocky trails.
- a sturdy frame
- The bike has a sturdy frame that can carry heavy loads.
- remarkably sturdy
- The little boat was remarkably sturdy.
- sturdy build
- He has a sturdy build and carried the boxes easily.
Synonyms and how they differ
- robust
- Robust is a more formal word and is also used for systems and ideas, while sturdy mostly describes physical things.
- solid
- Solid suggests a firm, dense object, whereas sturdy stresses the ability to resist rough use.
- stout
- Stout often describes a thick, heavy build in a person and can also suggest bravery, while sturdy is more positive about strength.
- durable
- Durable focuses on lasting a long time, whereas sturdy focuses on the strength of the structure.
Opposites
Word family
- sturdily adverb
- in a strong, solid way
- sturdiness noun
- the quality of being strong and solid
- unsturdy adjective
- not strong or solid, a rare word
Commonly confused: sturdy or study?
sturdy vs study
Study looks similar but means to learn about something. Sturdy means strongly built.
Practice
We need a ___ ladder to reach the top of the roof, not the wobbly one from the garage.
Choose one answer.
A sturdy ladder is strong enough to be safe. Flimsy and fragile mean the opposite, and fussy does not describe objects in this way.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sturdy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.