Synonyms

bravery

American

[brey-vuh-ree, breyv-ree] / ˈbreɪ və ri, ˈbreɪv ri /

noun

plural

braveries

brave spirit or conduct; courage; valor.

Synonyms:

spunk, mettle, nerve, audacity, spirit, pluck, heroism, prowess, daring, boldness, fearlessness, intrepidity

Antonyms:

cowardice
showiness; splendor; magnificence.

Related Words

See courage.

Other Word Forms

overbravery noun

Etymology

Origin of bravery

First recorded in 1540–50; probably from Italian braveria; equivalent to brave + -ery

Compare meaning

How does bravery compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

courage vs. bravery

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But it takes intellectual humility, curiosity and bravery to correct those mistakes, and to stray from the herd toward a messy and complicated truth.

From The Wall Street Journal

I applauded her bravery, but the conversation had mostly slipped my mind.

From Los Angeles Times

It means that he is a puffin of good breeding, possessing the qualities of honor and bravery.

From Literature

For all the bravery I had felt in the presence of Frederick and Bruno, the miller still frightened me.

From Literature

It’s harsh to discount the bravery of federales who took out Public Enemy No. 1, then quickly quelled retaliation External link by his lieutenants.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023