strong, stout, sturdy, stalwart, tough, tenacious mean showing power to resist or to endure. strong may imply power derived from muscular vigor, large size, structural soundness, intellectual or spiritual resources.
strong arms
the defense has a strong case stout suggests an ability to endure stress, pain, or hard use without giving way.
stout hiking boots sturdy implies strength derived from vigorous growth, determination of spirit, solidity of construction.
a sturdy table
people of sturdy independence stalwart suggests an unshakable dependability.
stalwart environmentalists tough implies great firmness and resiliency.
a tough political opponent tenacious suggests strength in seizing, retaining, clinging to, or holding together.
tenacious farmers clinging to an age-old way of life
Did You Know?
Adjective
Sometime in the 15th century, English speakers began to use stalwart in place of the older form stalworth. Although stalworth is now archaic, it laid the groundwork for today's meaning of stalwart. In the 12th century, stalworth began to be used to describe strongly built people or animals (a meaning stalwart took on about two centuries later). It also came to be used as an adjective for people who showed bravery or courage (likewise a meaning passed on to stalwart). So, in a way, stalwart has been serviceable in keeping the spirit of stalworth alive. This character of stalwart is true to its roots. Stalworth came from the Old English word stælwierthe (meaning "serviceable"), which, in turn, is thought to come from terms meaning "foundation" and "worth."
Examples of stalwart in a Sentence
Adjective
their strong and stalwart son
the stalwart soldiers in the army of Alexander the Great, who willingly followed him to the ends of the known world