courageous

adjective

cou·​ra·​geous kə-ˈrā-jəs 

: having or characterized by courage : brave

a courageous soldier

a courageous decision

courageously adverb

courageousness noun

Synonyms

• bold
• brave
• dauntless
• doughty
• fearless
• gallant
• greathearted
• gutsy
• gutty
• heroic
• heroical
• intrepid
• lionhearted
• manful
• stalwart
• stout
• stouthearted
• undauntable
• undaunted
• valiant
• valorous

Examples of courageous in a Sentence

She was a courageous woman who wasn't afraid to support unpopular causes.

the courageous decision to quit rather than obey an illegal order

Recent Examples on the Web

These were just those courageous enough to answer truthfully. —Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024

Erika Sanders of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council hopes the center will force stakeholders and policymakers to ask tough questions that may be uncomfortable but courageous. —La Risa R. Lynch, Journal Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2024

But a new resistance rises up, and courageous birds and animals around the world come together to create humanity’s last hope for survival: The Animal Air Force. —Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 28 Oct. 2024

The essence of Aries pushes us toward action and decision-making, and a tiger’s eye stone can provide the clarity and patience needed to take courageous steps forward without being swept away by impulsivity. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 15 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English corageous, borrowed from Anglo-French corajus, from corage courage + -us, -ous -ous

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

courageous

adjective

cou·​ra·​geous kə-ˈrā-jəs 

: having or marked by courage : brave

courageously adverb

courageousness noun