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valiant

valiant

35 6.1
Showing great courage when facing danger or difficult situations
  • adjective
  • /ˈvæljənt/
  • Formal
translation icon : valeroso
  • Despite their valiant efforts, the Rangers are being overwhelmed by the fierce combatants.
  • a valiant effort
  • a valiant attempt
  • a valiant defender

Today's guest is a valiant man, valiant young man.

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Examples

  • Due, in no small part, to the valiant work of our leader.

  • The firefighters made a valiant effort to control the raging blaze and save the trapped residents.

  • And it's just valiant efforts to try to keep them alive.

  • Here is a man who proves himself valiant in war.

  • No one stays on board but our valiant soldiers.

  • After a valiant attempt, the young girl releases the piano, and it is never played again.

    Academic text (2014)
  • Drew tries to keep his balance and fights a valiant but losing battle.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • There is something valiant and something noble about everything you've just described.

  • Today the blood of many a valiant knight shall be avenged.

  • During World War I and World War II, modern Ukrainian nationalists made valiant efforts to attain independence.

    Academic text (2004)

Synonyms

brave
vsvaliant
906 1.0

Has courage when facing danger, pain or fear

is reserved for acts of courage in very serious or dangerous situations
courageous
vsvaliant
157 3.3

Not afraid to face danger or problems

may also include determined action despite fear or great danger
heroic
vsvaliant
154 3.8

Shows great courage when facing danger or difficulty

is used for courage in the face of very serious danger or difficulty
fearless
vsvaliant
117 3.4

Shows courage in dangerous or hard situations

can include acting despite fear rather than lacking it
plucky
vsvaliant
14 6.8

To be brave and keep trying when things are hard

is used for courage in great danger or very serious difficulties
gallant
vsvaliant
8 5.6

Being brave and lively in a bold, energetic way

focuses more on steady courage and determination in very dangerous situations
valorous
vsvaliant
  • Formal
1 8.8

Being very brave when you face danger

is similar but also stresses determination in very hard situations
brave as a lion
vsvaliant
  • Informal
1 4.2

Not afraid to do very dangerous or difficult things

is used for courage in dangerous situations but not always at that extreme
stouthearted
vsvaliant
1 8.2

Brave and determined when facing danger or hard times

is used for courage in very dangerous or extremely difficult situations
heroical
vsvaliant
  • Archaic
8.6

Showing great bravery in dangerous or difficult situations

is similar but emphasizes courage in real dangerous or difficult situations

Antonyms

84 3.9

Feeling fear and avoiding dangerous or difficult situations

How Brave

fearless
117 3.4
heroic
154 3.8
valiant
  • Formal
35 6.1
courageous
157 3.3
brave
906 1.0

Surface Forms

valiant positive
valianter comparative
valiantest superlative

Morphology

valiant = val + ant

Formed historically via a Romance/Latin root plus the adjectival suffix '-ant'; the root 'val-' is not a standalone, productive English base, so learners cannot reliably derive the meaning from visible parts.

Etymology

Valiant comes from an old French word vaillant and the Latin valere meaning 'to be strong'. So being valiant is being 'strong' in danger, in other words brave and determined.