51Թ

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View synonyms for

fortitude

[ fawr-ti-tood, -tyood ]

noun

  1. mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, danger, or temptation courageously:

    Never once did her fortitude waver during that long illness.



fortitude

/ ˈɔːɪˌː /

noun

  1. strength and firmness of mind; resolute endurance
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˌڴǰپˈٳܻ徱Դdzܲ, adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of fortitude1

First recorded 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin ڴǰپūō “strength, firmness, courage,” equivalent to forti(s) “strong” + -ūō noun suffix ( -tude )
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of fortitude1

C15: from Latin ڴǰپūō courage
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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

I learned a lot about the history of our country and the importance of the law, our Constitution, the patience and determination and fortitude required in the dismantling of segregation in our country.

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It took some late fortitude to set the stage for the cross-country trip.

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Whether it succeeds or not will depend on whether the nation’s leading lawyers have the fortitude and moral clarity to stand up for democracy, justice and the rule of law.

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The way in which Raducanu showed fortitude and fight to win the second set was impressive.

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In terms of mental fortitude, he takes a bit of beating.

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More About Fortitude

What is fortitude?

Fortitude is mental or emotional strength in facing something difficult, as in Lillie stayed sane on the deserted island thanks to her intense mental fortitude.

Fortitude refers to mental or emotional strength rather than physical or bodily strength, as in During the pandemic, Kasha wrote poetry to maintain her mental fortitude. But you can use words like strength, power, and intensity as synonyms for fortitude if you are talking specifically about mental or emotional strength.

The adjective form of fortitude is fortitudinous, as in The fortitudinous soldiers never even considered retreating.

Example: You could never tell June was suffering from illness due to her amazing fortitude.

Where does fortitude come from?

The first records of fortitude come from around 1350. It ultimately comes from the Latin noun ڴǰپūō, meaning “strength, firmness, or courage.” Fortitude is the kind of courage a person has thanks to a strong will or mental stamina.

Fortitude is nearly always used to describe how a person acts or endures during a crisis or stressful situation. A person who lacks fortitude would panic, cry, or otherwise not endure a struggle. Fortitude is considered a desirable trait, like general bravery or courage, because it shows a person can endure adversity calmly.

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What are some other forms related to fortitude?

What are some synonyms for fortitude?

What are some words that share a root or word element with fortitude?

What are some words that often get used in discussing fortitude?

How is fortitude used in real life?

Fortitude is a word people often use to describe others who show amazing courage or resilience.

Try using fortitude!

Is fortitude used correctly in the following sentence?

The gorilla lifted the massive tree trunk thanks to his incredible fortitude powered by his large muscles.

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