happy warrior
Americannoun
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a person who is undiscouraged by difficulties or opposition.
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(initial capital letter) a nickname of Alfred E. Smith.
Etymology
Origin of happy warrior
First recorded in 1800–10
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 he was one of those politicians, too rare in politics these days, who dealt with criticism as a happy warrior.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
"He needs to show that he's vigorous and in command and a happy warrior."
From BBC ● Mar. 7, 2024
Mr. Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate, has signaled that he plans to run as a happy warrior, seeing it as a way to distance himself from Mr. Trump’s take-no-prisoners approach to politics.
From Washington Times ● May 19, 2023
He was in his element, jousting with political opponents — the picture of a happy warrior:
From Salon ● Feb. 8, 2023
So, too, does the Army from the death of Lord Roberts, the "happy warrior," who passed away while visiting the Western front.
From Mr. Punch's History of the Great War by Graves, Charles L. (Charles Larcom)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
