courageous

[kuh-rey-juh s]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR courageous ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

possessing or characterized by courage; brave: a courageous speech against the dictator.

Nearby words

Origin of courageous

1250–1300; Middle English corageous < Anglo-French curajous, Old French corageus, equivalent to corage courage + -eus -eous

Related forms

cou·ra·geous·ly, adverbcou·ra·geous·ness, nounun·cou·ra·geous, adjectiveun·cou·ra·geous·ly, adverb

un·cou·ra·geous·ness, noun

Synonym study

See brave.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for courageous

This courageous act earned him a late-night knock on the door with orders for Serna to vamos from Cuba.
Obama’s One Hand Clap With Castro|Doug McIntyre|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On Nov. 1, when Brittany ends her short but productive life, I will be thanking God for her remarkable and courageous example.
On Her Own Terms: Why Brittany Maynard Has Chosen to Die|Gene Robinson|October 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The men who killed these courageous workers committed a heinous crime.
The Fear That Killed Eight Ebola Workers|Abby Haglage|September 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Still, Brecht did manage to do some courageous things during the war—one of them being the writing of Mother Courage.
Brecht's Mercenary Mother Courage Turns 75|Katie Baker|September 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The book shares the stories of 10 courageous nuns, all fighting fights at an advanced age that few others would dare.
The World Would Go to Hell Without Nuns|William O’Connor|September 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Courageous as I am by nature, I absolutely trembled at the idea!
The Woman in White|Wilkie Collins
It seems that those who have no fear in face of dangers, simply because they do not know what they are, are not courageous?
The Memorabilia|Xenophon
She was the most courageous or the most foolish of women to remain there as she did.
The Golden Slipper|Anna Katharine Green
She was a fit companion for the brave Garibaldi; being to the full as courageous as he.
Female Warriors, Vol. II (of 2)|Ellen C. Clayton
But she was courageous, and soon the two were gayly chattering, as Bob stumbled and stamped along the macadam road.
Natalie: A Garden Scout|Lillian Elizabeth Roy

British Dictionary definitions for courageous

courageous

adjective

possessing or expressing courage

Derived Formscourageously, adverbcourageousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for courageous

courageous

adj.

late 13c., from Anglo-French corageous, Old French corageus (12c., Modern French courageux), from corage (see courage). Related: Courageously; courageousness.

courageous

adjective

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of courageous

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for courageous

courageous

adjective

courageous