gutsiness

1 7.0

Bravery and determination when facing danger or risk

noun
/ˈɡʌtsɪnəs/

Informal

: valentía

She is very, very good at recognizing how resilience and toughness, gutsiness can be trained, can be taught.

Examples

The firefighter showed incredible gutsiness when he rushed into the burning building to save the family.
Her gutsiness is an aphrodisiac for him.

Academic text (1990)
I want more people to see the gutsiness of so many women who everyday get up and do something that is really gutsy.
Incidentally, Tim, I'm really impressed with your writing and your gutsiness.

Blog text (5)
Meanwhile, her sheer persistence and gutsiness are much admired by colleagues here at home, even by her critics.

Academic text (2003)
Her gutsiness enabled her to stand up to the bully in front of the entire class.
Many admire his gutsiness for starting a new business despite the risks involved.

Synonyms

courage

vsgutsiness

756 1.4

Doing something even if you feel afraid or are in danger

adds stronger emphasis on determination as well as facing loss

guts

vsgutsiness

Informal

256 3.7

Courage to do something difficult even when you feel afraid

is the more colloquial, gritty way to name that same quality

bravery

vsgutsiness

107 2.3

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

includes that willingness but highlights toughness and determined spirit

valor

vsgutsiness

41 7.1

Great courage when facing danger, especially in battle

is more general, applying to ordinary risk and determined spirit

fortitude

vsgutsiness

Formal

32 6.7

Courage and inner strength when facing pain or trouble

adds a sharper element of bold risk taking and daring action

boldness

vsgutsiness

18 3.2

Willingness to take risks and face danger

is more about sustained determination and facing possible loss

mettle

vsgutsiness

14 7.7

The courage and determination to keep going in hard situations

focuses more on that steady resolve plus daring in risks

daring

vsgutsiness

11 3.2

Courage to take risks or face danger

stresses steadier courage and determination beyond mere risk taking

fearlessness

vsgutsiness

8 4.1

Not being afraid in danger or trouble

adds determined willingness to face loss and take risks as well

fighting spirit

vsgutsiness

7 3.9

A strong will and courage to keep trying against difficulties

leans more toward individual boldness facing direct danger or loss

pluck

vsgutsiness

7 7.6

Courage and determination when facing danger or problems

is similar but puts more stress on toughness facing loss

nerves of steel

vsgutsiness

Informal

6 5.8

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

adds a rougher, risk-taking quality rather than calm composure alone

intrepidity

vsgutsiness

1 9.9

Brave behavior when facing danger or difficulty

is similar but less formal and more about raw determination

braveness

vsgutsiness

1 3.2

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

adds a sense of gritty determination alongside steady courage

testicular fortitude

vsgutsiness

Slang

1 9.8

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

is the everyday, less crude way to express that same quality

courageousness

vsgutsiness

1 4.9

Brave actions when facing danger, pain or difficulty

stresses also a bold, gritty determination toward risk and possible loss

grittiness

vsgutsiness

1 5.1

Bravery and determination in difficult situations

places more weight on boldness and risk taking as well

stoutness

vsgutsiness

1 6.0

Being very brave and determined when facing problems

is more about bold action under risk and gritty resolve

gameness

vsgutsiness

1 8.2

A brave determination to keep going despite danger or difficulty

adds a more informal, gutsy sense of facing possible loss

hardiness

vsgutsiness

1 5.6

Willingness to face danger or take big risks

adds a sharper focus on grit and determination under threat

daringness

vsgutsiness

1 3.8

Being brave and willing to take risks

includes that boldness but highlights endurance and determination too

valiance

vsgutsiness

Literature

1 8.9

A person's brave action when they face danger

is broader and more colloquial, covering everyday determined bravery

pluckiness

vsgutsiness

1 7.9

Courage and determination when someone faces danger or difficulty

adds a rough, gutsy tone to that same determination

heartedness

vsgutsiness

1 7.0

A brave, determined feeling when facing danger or difficulty

leans more toward rough, risk-taking determination in dire situations

dauntlessness

vsgutsiness

1 8.1

Brave, determined action when facing danger or difficulty

adds an informal, gutsy flavour to that determined fearlessness

stoutheartedness

vsgutsiness

9.2

Brave and determined actions in hard times

is closer to everyday boldness combined with facing possible loss

valorousness

vsgutsiness

Formal

9.8

Bravery when facing great danger, often in battle

is broader, including plain boldness and determined facing of loss

valiancy

vsgutsiness

Literature

9.9

Great courage shown when facing danger

is more common and focuses on everyday gutsy determination

mettlesomeness

vsgutsiness

9.9

A quality that makes someone brave and determined

is more about plain, steady courage in dangerous situations

Antonyms

timidity

6 5.8

Feeling too shy or afraid to try new things

gutlessness

1 8.2

To be afraid to take risks or face difficulties

How Brave

bravery

107 2.3

gutsiness

Informal

1 7.0

spunk

24 7.6

pluck

7 7.6

Surface Forms

gutsiness singular

gutsinesses plural

Morphology

gutsiness = gutsy (transparent) = guts + y + ness

Formed by adding the deverbal/adjectival noun suffix '-ness' to the clearly derived adjective 'gutsy' (guts + -y), preserving the meaning of courage.

Etymology

Gutsiness comes from the simple word guts, which meant 'stomach' and then came to mean courage. A helpful way to remember it is to imagine someone with a 'strong stomach' who faces danger without fear. That's why gutsiness means courage and determination.