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
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 There’s the sob story, the gallant bildungsroman, the louche chronicle of various addictive behaviors, the righteous making of an activist, the victory lap. Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 14 Nov. 2023 See All Example Sentences for gallant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gallant
Adjective
  • Not so long ago, Taiwan basked in seemingly boundless, bipartisan support in Washington, where the island has long been regarded as a valiant democratic partner against China.
    Chris Buckley, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025
  • Despite making a valiant effort to return, including training throughout the winter of 2023, Rodgers never played again that year.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Any algorithmic bias, no matter how noble, that promotes cooperation skews strategy and statecraft.
    Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Sadly, this noble, ocean-going species is on the decline throughout its native range, with many runs listed as threatened or endangered.
    Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • In Cairo, the Sphinx, the Giza Pyramids and the magnificent Pyramid of Cheops beckon.
    Rona Berg, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Playing for Team Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off, Karlsson was magnificent in all three of his appearances.
    Josh Yohe, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Usually, that question produces a sparse list of obvious salary dumps plus a handful of veteran players who are getting squeezed out by some dude on Keith Law’s Top 100 Prospects list.
    Jayson Stark, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025
  • Now, Walter is still hanging around Misty, doting on her and generally just being a great (yet super-creepy) dude.
    Erin Qualey, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Haack has since revealed a new love interest, sharing a snap with her new boyfriend, Christopher Larocca, earlier this month.
    Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025
  • Grande met her current boyfriend, Ethan Slater — who plays the Munchkin Boq — on set.
    Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 22 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Simone Ashley is taking a break from romancing Mister Bridgerton to try her hand at modern love.
    Shania Russell, EW.com, 11 Feb. 2025
  • In a recent essay for Vanity Fair, Lorraine recalled being a child when her father, now 87, romanced the former Twin Peaks star, now 54, in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
    Eric Andersson, People.com, 2 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Above all, California needs interest groups, lawmakers and a courageous governor willing to set aside politics as usual and commit to tackling hard problems.
    Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2025
  • For mentees just starting their careers, having a safe space to discuss professional aspirations and share concerns makes all the difference in their ability to take courageous risks.
    Tara Fitzpatrick-Navarro, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Those extra hours—for fewer rewards—can contribute to women’s greater fatigue, health problems, and burnout.
    Michelle Travis, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
  • Neither of them were the person who issued the bounty, which came from Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit, husband of all-time tennis great Serena Williams and a lifelong Commanders fan, less than a week before Carrion pulled the card.
    Larry Holder, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gallant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gallant. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.

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