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
  • Walker offers a fresh perspective with youthful vigor.
    Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Your vigor is a gift, yet pacing yourself ensures consistency and keeps your focus strong beyond a single push toward completion.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The farmworkers' rights movement has always been powered by courage, by people willing to endure, to speak out, to demand dignity in the face of injustice.
    Luzdelia Caballero, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
  • But if worthiness is measured by the courage to lead, the humility to listen, the wisdom to hold complexity and the sacred responsibility of walking with people through joy, loss and transformation, then women’s rabbinic leadership has already outgrown the narrow metrics of any centralized system.
    Rabba Sara Hurwitz, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Saturn in your companionable 7th house is encouraging Pluto in your playful 5th house, so the energy of these cosmic powerhouses should be a little less hard to handle and a lot more fun!
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Mar. 2026
  • State officials are also discussing possible rebate checks for taxpayers to help blunt high energy costs.
    Matthew Daly, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Dredging up old news degraded Altman’s heroism.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
  • In Vietnam, he was awarded the Bronze Star for heroism and a Purple Heart.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Minor acts of bravery mean a lot right now.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026
  • The jury saw the truth and recognized the bravery Donna showed in standing up for herself.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 23 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 2 Apr. 2026.

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