Definition

Noun: 1. Boldness and daring; courage in facing risk or difficulty: The quality of being willing to undertake actions that are difficult, risky, or dangerous. It implies a robust and resolute spirit. 2. (Archaic/Rare) Audacity or impudence: A now less common meaning referring to excessive boldness that borders on insolence or rudeness.

Usage and Examples

• The early explorers showed incredible hardihood in setting sail across uncharted oceans.
• Surviving the harsh winter alone in the wilderness required both skill and hardihood.
• (Archaic) "I was shocked by the hardihood of his false accusations."

Advanced Usage

• "To have the hardihood to do something": This phrase emphasizes the audacity or boldness required for a specific, often surprising or disapproved, action.
  • He had the hardihood to ask for a promotion after missing his deadlines.

Variants and Related Words

• Hardy (adjective): Possessing or showing hardihood; robust, capable of enduring difficult conditions.
  • A hardy species of plant that survives in the Arctic.
• Hardiness (noun): The quality of being hardy; robustness, endurance. Often overlaps with 'hardihood' in the sense of resilience.
  • The hardiness of the mountain goats is remarkable.

Synonyms

• Boldness: Willingness to take risks and act innovatively.
• Courage: The ability to do something that frightens one; bravery.
• Fortitude: Courage and strength of mind in pain or adversity.
• Daring: Adventurous courage.
• Audacity: A willingness to take bold risks, often with a connotation of disrespect or shock value.

Antonyms

• Timidity: Lack of courage or confidence.
• Cowardice: Lack of bravery.
• Caution: Care taken to avoid danger or mistakes.

Noun

1. the trait of being willing to undertake things that involve risk or danger
   • the proposal required great boldness
   • the plan required great hardiness of heart