Sturdy
adj.resilient, capableeveryday
What it means
Strongly built and able to withstand use or difficulty.
Reach for it when describing something solidly built to withstand weight, wear, or difficult conditions
The sturdy table served the workshop for decades.
Choose between these
6- everyday
when substantial construction creates confidence
not when Solid can describe mass or quality without proving resistance to wear.
- everyday
when broad load-bearing power is enough to say
not when Strong is less specific about how well something was built.
- warm
when a plant, animal, or person thrives in harsh conditions
not when Tools and buildings are sturdy, but rarely hardy.
- professional
when long service life is the chief advantage
not when A durable fabric may last through wear without being rigid or sturdy.
- professional
when a design or system keeps working under stress and variation
not when Robust is abstract for ordinary furniture or a person's build.
- formal
when rough use and severe environments shape the requirement
not when Rugged can imply coarse appearance that sturdy does not.
Said against
3- fragile
- flimsy
- rickety
It naturally appears in
3- sturdy construction
Sturdy construction kept the footbridge usable for decades.
- sturdy shoes
Wear sturdy shoes on the loose volcanic trail.
- sturdy frame
A sturdy frame supports the heavy glass panels.
Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English adjective, firm or strongly built sense opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.