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

Joshua Zeman’s documentary chronicles the courageous efforts to save them, first from starvation, then via transport to new homes. —Dennis Harvey, Variety, 8 Jan. 2025

The Democratic budget was moved from the House to the Senate, which allowed four courageous Democratic senators who recognized the historic moment for structural budgetary changes. —Len Fasano, Hartford Courant, 8 Jan. 2025

The innies’ courageous efforts to blow the whistle on their employer have worked. —Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Jan. 2025

Advertisement Biden has days left in the presidential office and has spent the last few days issuing awards and medals to valiant military veterans, courageous law enforcement officials and exceptional Americans. —Fatima Hussein, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2025

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