durable
adjective
Did you know?
Something durable lasts a long time, so it's no surprise that the word comes to us, via Anglo-French, from the Latin verb durare, meaning "to last." Other descendants of durare in English include during, endure, and durance (which now mostly turns up in the phrase "in durance vile," a fancy way of saying "in prison"). Durable even has a near synonym in the much rarer perdurable, which combines durare with the prefix per- (meaning "throughout") to create a word that can mean "lasting a very long time or indefinitely" or "eternal."
Example Sentences
Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2022 Comfortable, durable, and stylish patio furniture is hard to find. Lily Gray, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2022 The Prvke is comfortable, durable, and has all of the pockets a gadget-laden photographer or videographer could hope for. Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 3 Sep. 2022 More durable and flexible bronze tools and weapons were manufactured; towns began to become cities. Adam Kuper, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022 Choose from a multitude of color ways in both standard fabrics and slightly pricier (but more durable) performance fabrics. Alison Allsopp, Country Living, 25 Aug. 2022 Plus, many are crafted with durable and machine-washable materials, like canvas and nylon, which makes cleaning up any messes or stains a cinch. Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 24 Aug. 2022 The pilot aims to create a modular, durable and affordable home that is climate friendly, addresses housing needs and encourages equity. Talis Shelbourne, Journal Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2022 CamelBak’s Chute Mag 32-ounce water bottle is both durable and completely leakproof. Outside Online, 23 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin durabilis, from durare to last — more at during
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing durable
Kids Definition
durable
adjective
durable
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- sturdy
- sturdy
- permanent
- unbreakable
- lasting
- enduring
- strong
- everlasting
- hardy
- rugged
- tough
- strong
- vigorous
- hardened
- toughened
- indestructible
- tough
- stout
- permanent
- stable
- hard
- inured
- resilient
- cast-iron
- tenacious
- hard-bitten
- imperishable
- immortal
- unyielding
- inextinguishable
- staunch
- staying
- stanch
- stalwart
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fragile
- flimsy
- delicate
- soft
- breakable
- frail
- weak
- perishable
- delicate
- destructible
- fragile
- worn
- tender
- temporary
- weakened
- extinguishable
- enfeebled
- wasted
- transient
- exhausted
- nonhardy
- mortal
- worn-out
- enervated
- sapped
- run-down
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of durable are lasting, permanent, and stable. While all these words mean "enduring for so long as to seem fixed or established," durable implies power to resist destructive agencies.
In some situations, the words lasting and durable are roughly equivalent. However, lasting implies a capacity to continue indefinitely.
While in some cases nearly identical to durable, permanent adds usually the implication of being designed or planned to stand or continue indefinitely.
The meanings of stable and durable largely overlap; however, stable implies lastingness because of resistance to being overturned or displaced.