heroic

American  

[hi-roh-ik] / hɪˈroʊ ɪk /

adjective

1. Also heroical of, relating to, or characteristic of a hero or heroine.

   Synonyms:

   courageous, brave, gallant, valorous, valiant, dauntless

   Antonyms:

   cowardly

2. suitable to the character of a hero in size or concept; daring; noble.

   a heroic ambition.

   Synonyms:

   courageous, brave, gallant, valorous, valiant, dauntless

   Antonyms:

   cowardly

3. having or displaying the character or attributes of a hero; extraordinarily bold, altruistic, determined, etc..

   a heroic explorer.

4. having or involving recourse to boldness, daring, or extreme measures.

   Heroic measures were taken to save his life.

5. dealing with or describing the deeds, attributes, etc., of heroes, as in literature.

6. of, relating to, or characteristic of the heroes of antiquity.

   heroic mythology.

7. used in heroic poetry.

   Synonyms:

   epic

8. resembling heroic poetry in language or style; grandiloquent.

9. (of style or language) lofty; extravagant; grand.

10. larger than life-size.

    a statue of heroic proportions.

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noun

1. Usually heroics heroic verse.

2. heroics,

   1. flamboyant or extravagant language, sentiment, or behavior, intended to seem heroic.

   2. heroic action or behavior.

heroic British  

/ hɪˈrəʊɪk /

adjective

1. of, like, or befitting a hero

2. courageous but desperate

3. relating to or treating of heroes and their deeds

4. of, relating to, or resembling the heroes of classical mythology

5. (of language, manner, etc) extravagant

6. prosody of, relating to, or resembling heroic verse

7. (of the arts, esp sculpture) larger than life-size; smaller than colossal

8. RC Church

   1. held to such a degree as to enable a person to perform virtuous actions with exceptional promptness, ease and pleasure, and with self-abnegation and self-control

      heroic virtue

   2. performed or undergone by such a person

      the heroic witness of martyrdom

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unheroicness
  noun
• heroicalness
  noun
• pseudoheroical
  adjective
• unheroical
  adjective
• unheroically
  adverb
• superheroically
  adverb
• nonheroic
  adjective
• pseudoheroically
  adverb
• quasi-heroically
  adverb
• heroicness
  noun
• nonheroical
  adjective
• nonheroically
  adverb
• superheroic
  adjective
• quasi-heroic
  adjective
• unheroicalness
  noun
• heroically
  adverb
• pseudoheroic
  adjective
• unheroic
  adjective
• heroicity
  noun
• nonheroicness
  noun
• nonheroicalness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of heroic

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin hērōicus, from Greek hērōïkós “of, pertaining to a hero”; hero + -ic; compare late Middle English heroical, heroicus

Explanation

Heroic means having the qualities of a hero, such as bravery. Maybe on your daily walk, you see a house on fire, and you run into the flames repeatedly to save the family and their pets, including the fish! That’s heroic. Literature offers many examples of heroic characters, who by their strength or their wiles or both overcame almost impossible obstacles. In Greek mythology, Hercules was given seven seemingly impossible tasks that he completed with heroic daring, Achilles was a warrior whose accomplishments in battle were heroic, and Odysseus showed his heroic qualities as he conquered monsters and men in his journey home.

Example Sentences

USC failed to capitalize on a heroic start from pitcher Andrew Johnson, who gave up seven hits and two earned runs while striking out four and walking two over 7⅔ innings.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026

"Endless gratitude to the Secret Service for their immediate, heroic response. Political violence has to stop."

From Barron's • May 23, 2026

"It's fair to say his actions were heroic," San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said at a news conference on Monday.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

At the ceremony inaugurating the museum, Kim, who was accompanied by Russian officials, praised his troops’ “noble sacrifices and heroic military feats.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

The young mouse, hiding a smile at Basil’s noble pose, said admiringly, “Oh, Mr. Hare, you do look heroic standing like that! Thank you!”

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

Related Words

• bold
• courageous
• daring
• epic
• fearless
• gallant
• grand
• gutsy
• noble
• valiant