pluckiness

1 7.9

Courage and determination when someone faces danger or difficulty

noun
/ˈplʌkɪnəs/

: valentía

The children's pluckiness during the storm showed their bravery and determination.

Examples

Despite the challenges they faced, his pluckiness helped him overcome the obstacles.
Regardless of the pluckiness of a suddenly resurgent Indiana, you would be a fool to believe we should let Wisconsin off the hook if they do not make it to Indianapolis.

Blog text (21)
Her pluckiness in facing the dangerous situation impressed everyone around her.

Synonyms

fight

vspluckiness

431 2.5

Strong determination and energy to keep trying in hard situations

frames courage as resisting and persisting under pressure rather than fearlessness

bravery

vspluckiness

104 2.3

A person's willingness to face danger or pain without fear

stresses both courage and steady determination under real danger

tenacity

vspluckiness

31 6.0

Not giving up when things are hard

emphasizes persistence and resolve rather than courage in dangerous situations

mettle

vspluckiness

15 7.7

The courage and determination to keep going in hard situations

puts extra weight on the courage shown during risky or dangerous moments

boldness

vspluckiness

9 3.2

Willingness to take risks and face danger

tends more toward steady courage plus inner determination in danger

gallantry

vspluckiness

5 7.7

Brave action in dangerous situations, especially in battle

is more about everyday determined courage rather than dramatic heroism

fighting spirit

vspluckiness

5 3.9

A strong will and courage to keep trying against difficulties

focuses more on active struggle and persistence than calm bravery

pluck

vspluckiness

4 7.6

Courage and determination when facing danger or problems

is the same idea but used as the shorter common noun form

nerves of steel

vspluckiness

Informal

4 5.8

The ability to stay calm and brave in dangerous or difficult situations

adds ordinary determined bravery and steady nerve in hard cases

intrepidity

vspluckiness

1 9.9

Brave behavior when facing danger or difficulty

includes a stronger sense of firm action as well as steady courage

daring

vspluckiness

1 3.2

Courage to take risks or face danger

leans more on continued courageous determination in difficult situations

heartedness

vspluckiness

1 7.0

A brave, determined feeling when facing danger or difficulty

emphasizes warm spirited bravery coupled with steady resolve in hardship

courageousness

vspluckiness

1 4.9

Brave actions when facing danger, pain or difficulty

highlights determined spirit as well as steady courage in hard cases

gutsiness

vspluckiness

Informal

1 7.0

Bravery and determination when facing danger or risk

is closer to general brave determination rather than high dramatic heroism

grittiness

vspluckiness

1 5.1

Bravery and determination in difficult situations

leans toward long endurance and toughness rather than immediate bold action

valiance

vspluckiness

Literature

1 8.9

A person's brave action when they face danger

is used more for regular courageous determination, not high heroism

daringness

vspluckiness

1 3.8

Being brave and willing to take risks

adds emphasis on sustained courage and determined effort under pressure

hardihood

vspluckiness

Literature

1 9.9

Bravery to take risks and face danger

puts more stress on steady courage combined with determined action

stoutness

vspluckiness

1 6.0

Being very brave and determined when facing problems

is similar but often focuses on inner strength as part of courage

testicular fortitude

vspluckiness

Slang

1 9.8

Bravery that someone shows when they face a difficult or dangerous situation

is similar in meaning but carries an informal crude or vulgar tone

scrappiness

vspluckiness

1 6.3

Trying hard and not giving up when facing bigger or stronger opponents

is more about scrappy persistence than composed courageous determination in danger

braveness

vspluckiness

3.2

Being willing to face danger, fear, or pain without moving away

adds emphasis on resolute determination when situations become dangerous

mettlesomeness

vspluckiness

9.9

A quality that makes someone brave and determined

focuses more on lively spirit within steady courage and determination

dauntlessness

vspluckiness

8.1

Brave, determined action when facing danger or difficulty

adds the sense of courageous persistence during ongoing difficult situations

valorousness

vspluckiness

Formal

9.8

Bravery when facing great danger, often in battle

leans toward ordinary steady courage and determined spirit under hardship

valiancy

vspluckiness

Literature

9.9

Great courage shown when facing danger

focuses instead on down to earth courage combined with determination

heroicity

vspluckiness

8.8

Great courage in dangerous situations

suggests grand or notable acts rather than modest determined courage

hardiness

vspluckiness

5.6

Willingness to face danger or take big risks

focuses more on endurance and continual determination in hard conditions

steeliness

vspluckiness

6.7

Being very strong and determined without showing emotion

is more about active courage and determined behaviour under danger

stoutheartedness

vspluckiness

9.2

Brave and determined actions in hard times

matches the same idea but stresses firm steady courage under strain

tenaciousness

vspluckiness

7.3

A strong will to keep trying and not give up

focuses on holding on and effort, not specifically bravery under threat

Antonyms

timidity

7 5.8

Feeling too shy or afraid to try new things

How Brave

heroism

57 4.2

pluckiness

1 7.9

courage

∞ 1.4

Surface Forms

pluckiness singular

pluckinesses plural

Morphology

pluckiness = plucky (transparent) = pluck + ness

Formed from 'plucky' + '-ness' (i.e., pluck -> plucky -> pluckiness), a straightforward nominalization indicating the quality of being plucky.

Etymology

Pluckiness comes from the old English verb pluck, which originally meant 'to pull'. People used the phrase 'pluck up' to mean 'pull yourself together' in hard moments, so pluck came to mean 'bravery', and pluckiness is the quality of being brave and determined.