hardihood
noun
har·di·hood ˈhär-dē-ˌhu̇d 
1
a
: resolute courage and fortitude
b
: resolute and self-assured audacity often carried to the point of impudent insolence
2
: vigor, robustness
Synonyms
- beans
- bounce
- brio
- dash
- drive
- dynamism
- energy
- esprit
- gas
- get-up-and-go
- ginger
- go
- gusto
- juice
- life
- moxie
- oomph
- pep
- punch
- sap
- snap
- starch
- verve
- vigor
- vim
- vinegar
- vitality
- zing
- zip
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the 80-year-old grandmother attributes her hardihood to having eaten a cup of yogurt every day for the past 50 years the explorers were driven by an almost reckless hardihood in the face of the unknown
Recent Examples on the Web 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
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 Word History
First Known Use
1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
hardihood
noun
1
as in vigor
active strength of body or mind the 80-year-old grandmother attributes her hardihood to having eaten a cup of yogurt every day for the past 50 years Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- vigor
- energy
- strength
- stamina
- zeal
- dynamism
- vitality
- spirit
- life
- verve
- moxie
- brio
- pep
- gusto
- vim
- juice
- dash
- gas
- power
- drive
- esprit
- oomph
- punch
- zing
- vivacity
- bounce
- ginger
- zip
- starch
- muscle
- vinegar
- get-up-and-go
- sprightliness
- go
- beans
- sap
- briskness
- spiritedness
- passion
- soundness
- jauntiness
- élan
- ardor
- spunkiness
- vivaciousness
- liveliness
- spunk
- hardiness
- fervor
- fire
- fitness
- snap
- vibrancy
- might
- mettle
- virility
- vibrance
- potency
- animation
- puissance
- sturdiness
- animal spirits
- huskiness
- health
- snappiness
- brawniness
- healthiness
- metal
- verdure
- wellness
- main
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lethargy
- indolence
- sluggishness
- tenderness
- feebleness
- listlessness
- laziness
- weakness
- infirmity
- torpidity
- softness
- debility
- frailty
- impotence
- faintness
- delicacy
- powerlessness
- inanition
- impotency
- exhaustion
- enfeeblement
- debilitation
- prostration
- disablement
- frailness
- slightness
- puniness
- enervation
2
as in courage
strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger the explorers were driven by an almost reckless hardihood in the face of the unknown Synonyms & Similar Words
- courage
- heroism
- bravery
- gallantry
- courageousness
- prowess
- daring
- intrepidity
- nerve
- valor
- fearlessness
- stoutness
- virtue
- dauntlessness
- intrepidness
- gutsiness
- daringness
- fortitude
- moxie
- guts
- gumption
- heart
- pecker
- stamina
- grit
- mettle
- endurance
- perseverance
- greatheartedness
- determination
- tenacity
- audacity
- intestinal fortitude
- boldness
- spunk
- pluck
- temper
- bottle
- doughtiness
- temerity
- effrontery
- pluckiness
- backbone
- resolution
- fiber
- gall
- stomach
- brazenness
- cojones
- cheek
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cowardice
- timidity
- feebleness
- cowardliness
- timorousness
- faintheartedness
- fearfulness
- spinelessness
- softness
- weakness
- cravenness
- cold feet
- impotence
- dastardliness
- hesitation
- irresolution
- poltroonery
- ineffectualness
- indecision
- mousiness
- indecisiveness
Synonym Chooser
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
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
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
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
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
- misrefers
- misregister
- misregistered
- misregistering
- misregisters
- misregistration
- misregistrations
- misrelate
- misrelated
- misrelates
- misrelating
- misrelations
- misrelied
- misrelies
- misrelying
- misremember
- misremembered
- misremembering
- misremembers
- misrender
- misrendered
- misrendering
- misrenders
- misreport
- misreported