manful

[ man-fuhl ]

adjective

1. having or showing boldness, courage, or strength; resolute.

manful

/ ˈmænfʊl /

adjective

1. See manly
   a less common word for manly

Derived Forms

• ˈmanfully, adverb
• ˈmanfulness, noun

Other Words From

• manful·ly adverb
• manful·ness noun
• un·manful adjective
• un·manful·ly adverb
• un·manful·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of manful¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; man, -ful

Synonym Study

See manly.

Example Sentences

In Roosevelt’s scheme of things, imperialism was a necessary “manly” duty that American men needed to take up, or risk letting the reins of global power be seized by a “more manful race.”

From Time

He sat on my lap in rehearsals and made fearlessly manful eye contact while chatting after the show.

From The Daily Beast

On the ninth day, Bruce abandoned his engines, and delivered a general assault; but still the besieged made manful defence.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus the word is not a vague epithet: the words simply mean, that the manful exertions of Machaon were arrested.

From Project Gutenberg

That's not a bad name for a warrior, sounding much more manful and valiant than Deerslayer!

From Project Gutenberg

And I make my oath that I never beheld so fierce and manful a combat in all of my life.

From Project Gutenberg

They were all soldiers—he said—in the trenches under the poisonous gas of the Prince of Darkness, and must be manful.

From Project Gutenberg