hardy
gb/hˈɑɹdi/ us/hˈɑɹdi/
B2
English
~ 5200
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
strong and tough; able to endure
strong and healthy, and able to live or work in bad conditions like cold or hard work
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is hardy
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "hardy" with "hearty". Use "hardy" for people, animals, or things that are strong and can live in hard conditions (a hardy farmer, hardy mountain goats). Use "hearty" for warm feelings or strong enjoyment (a hearty laugh, a hearty welcome) and for filling food (a hearty meal).
Synonyms
tough (Very common and informal; often suggests both physical and mental strength, similar to 'hardy'.)
|
robust (Slightly more formal; emphasizes strong health or construction.)
|
rugged (Often suggests toughness developed in outdoor or rough conditions.)
|
sturdy (Focuses on solid, stable strength; often used for physical build or objects.)
Antonyms
delicate (Suggests someone or something easily damaged or made ill, the opposite of hardy.)
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fragile (Emphasizes being easily broken or harmed, not tough.)
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weak (General opposite, lacking physical strength or resistance.)
Collocations
hardy people
|hardy souls
|hardy type
|hardy breed
|a hardy bunch
|hardy stock
Themes
health
|character
|nature
|body
Examples
- Only the hardiest climbers attempted the mountain in winter.
- These fishermen are a hardy lot, working long hours in freezing winds.
- She comes from a hardy family that has farmed this land for generations.
- The village is populated by hardy souls who are used to long, dark winters.
- You have to be pretty hardy to swim in that icy water.
Learner examples
- The old man is still very hardy and walks every day.
- You must be hardy to work outside in the snow.
- Those workers are hardy; they never complain about the cold.
- She is a hardy woman and does not get sick easily.
unknown
B2
property
2
resistant to cold outdoor conditions
able to live outside and not die when it is very cold or the weather is bad, especially about plants
Usage pattern:
hardy [plant/variety/species]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes mix up this plant-related meaning with general physical toughness. In gardening, "hardy" is usually about surviving cold outside, not about strong growth in general. Also, do not confuse with "hard" (difficult) or "hearty" (warm, friendly, or filling).
Synonyms
cold-resistant (Technical-sounding phrase that directly refers to withstanding low temperatures.)
|
hardy (to frost-tolerant) (Gardening term often used in plant descriptions; 'hardy' is the standard word, but 'frost-tolerant' is close in meaning.)
Antonyms
tender (Specific gardening term for plants that are easily damaged by cold.)
|
frost-sensitive (Describes plants that cannot survive frost, the opposite of hardy in this context.)
Collocations
hardy plants
|hardy perennials
|hardy shrubs
|hardy varieties
|winter-hardy species
|hardy in cold climates
Themes
gardening
|nature
|weather
Examples
- These hardy perennials will survive even the harshest winters.
- The plant is hardy enough to be grown outdoors in most northern climates.
- Gardeners recommend choosing hardy shrubs for exposed, windy sites.
- This variety of cabbage is remarkably hardy and can be harvested after the first frosts.
- Only the hardiest species can live at such high altitudes.
Learner examples
- These flowers are hardy and can stay outside in winter.
- We need hardy plants for our cold garden.
- This tree is not hardy; it will die if it freezes.
- Choose hardy vegetables if your winters are very cold.
adjective
literary
C1
property
3
bold and daring in attitude
brave and not afraid of danger or problems; not easily stopped by fear
Usage pattern:
a hardy [attempt/adventurer/spirit]
Synonyms
bold (Common word for people who are not afraid to take risks.)
|
intrepid (More literary; emphasizes fearless bravery in dangerous situations.)
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daring (Focuses on a willingness to do risky or unusual things.)
Antonyms
timid (Describes someone who is shy or easily frightened, the opposite of bold or hardy in this sense.)
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cowardly (Stronger negative word for someone who avoids danger or difficulty due to fear.)
Collocations
hardy spirit
|hardy adventurer
|hardy explorer
|hardy attempt
|only the hardiest
|hardy band of volunteers
Themes
character
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Only a hardy few volunteered for the dangerous mission.
- A band of hardy explorers set out across the ice.
- It was a hardy attempt, given the lack of money and support.
- The success of the project owed much to a small, hardy group of believers.
- Even the hardiest optimists began to doubt the plan.
Learner examples
- Only hardy climbers try to reach the top in winter.
- A few hardy students stayed in the library all night.
- The hardy team kept going, even when things went wrong.
- She is a hardy traveler who likes dangerous trips.
Grammar
Dictionary form
hardy
IPA
GB/hˈɑɹdi/
US/hˈɑɹdi/
Syllables & stress
hardy (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (hardy)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: hardy
- Comparative: hardier
- Superlative: hardiest
Word family
Forms
hardier
adjective
hardiest
adjective
Core family
hardiness
noun
Related words
hardily
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
tender
adjective B2
Expressions
a hardy perennial
1/ə hˈɑɹdi pɚˈɛniəl/
idiom
problem or topic that keeps returning
a subject, question, or problem that people talk about again and again over a long time and that never really goes away
Examples
- The shortage of affordable housing has become a hardy perennial in local politics.
- Complaints about exam stress are a hardy perennial at the university.
- In newspaper columns, the cost of public transport is a hardy perennial.