gallant 1 of 3

1
as in valiant
feeling or displaying no fear by temperament a gallant firefighter, rushing into the burning house to save the children a gallant rescue

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2
3

gallant

2 of 3

noun

1
as in dude
a man extremely interested in his clothing and personal appearance he was quite a gallant, primping more than either of his sisters

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

gallant

3 of 3

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective gallant contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of gallant are chivalrous, civil, courteous, and polite. While all these words mean "observant of the forms required by good breeding," gallant and chivalrous imply courteous attentiveness especially to women. gallant suggests spirited and dashing behavior and ornate expressions of courtesy.

a gallant suitor of the old school

Where would chivalrous be a reasonable alternative to gallant?

The words chivalrous and gallant can be used in similar contexts, but chivalrous suggests high-minded and self-sacrificing behavior.

a chivalrous display of duty

When could civil be used to replace gallant?

While the synonyms civil and gallant are close in meaning, civil often suggests little more than the avoidance of overt rudeness.

owed the questioner a civil reply

When can courteous be used instead of gallant?

Although the words courteous and gallant have much in common, courteous implies more actively considerate or dignified politeness.

clerks who were unfailingly courteous to customers

When might polite be a better fit than gallant?

The words polite and gallant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, polite commonly implies polish of speech and manners and sometimes suggests an absence of cordiality.

if you can't be pleasant, at least be polite

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gallant
Adjective
Albert Suárez stepped in to pitch a gallant five innings but understandably could not go more on short notice. Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 9 Aug. 2024 If only our decade had a gallant narrative for the history books to counterbalance all of the sleaziness, like when the Continental Army took over airports during the Revolutionary War. Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2024 Posey became recognizable throughout Philadelphia for his fine clothes and gallant demeanor. Ramin Ganeshram, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2024 This council made a gallant effort to socialize this City Charter mandate. Detroit Free Press, 7 Feb. 2024 See All Example Sentences for gallant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gallant
Adjective
  • The Cybertruck is indeed a valiant effort in doing something new, and that’s not what most manufacturers dare to do.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 12 Apr. 2025
  • In a valiant effort, Wanyonyi was able to hold off all three of these 1500-meter specialists.
    Katelyn Hutchison, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Even those with noble intentions, like Boromir, who dream of wielding it to protect their people, fail to grasp its truth.
    Jon Fleischman, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2025
  • Bonhoeffer’s understanding of conscience inspires heroic action: People really can do the most dangerous and noble things — a good reminder in our low, dishonest times.
    David DeCosse, Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Their odd-couple pairing became a magnificent slow burn of hatred into grudging respect into genuine affection, making for a tantalizing will-they-won't-they.
    Tyler Aquilina, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • These are magnificent achievements that propel Hellebuyck beyond back-to-back Vezina Trophy consideration and into Hart territory while proving that Connor and Scheifele can score while playing better defence than earlier in their careers.
    Murat Ates, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • His size doesn’t exactly blow you out of the water — not exactly the biggest dude at 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds — but the natural talent is special.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2025
  • That includes the dude competing with one arm and the other dude who when not falling repeatedly off a balance beam into the ocean was losing his grip 15 seconds into a challenge.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Her niece’s boyfriend, twenty-two-year-old Jacob Miranda, had also died there, of a fentanyl overdose.
    Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Chelsea, of course, met a sad fate along with her much-older boyfriend, Rick (Walton Goggins) in The White Lotus Season 3 finale a week ago.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The princess doesn’t only want a man’s riches but the whole package – a husband with money that will romance her.
    Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Belinda's son Zion was originally meant to romance Piper in the season 3 finale, but that scene got scuttled due to time restraints.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The doc observes students shaping and driving courageous forms of conversation among themselves and with their institutions.
    Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2025
  • John Lewis John Lewis, born in 1940 in Troy, Alabama, was a son of sharecroppers who became one of the most courageous and enduring voices of the Civil Rights Movement.
    Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Natural disasters are increasing so much in frequency and intensity that even places once believed to be insulated from the worst of what’s to come—the cool, wet Pacific Northwest, for example—are experiencing greater effects from wildfire, storms, flooding, landslides and drought.
    Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025
  • His great concern, however, is that A.I. is not being developed with this goal in mind.
    John Cassidy, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gallant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gallant. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.

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