heroic

[ hi-roh-ik ]

/ hɪˈroʊ ɪk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR heroic ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

Also he·ro·i·cal. of, relating to, or characteristic of a hero or heroine.

suitable to the character of a hero in size or concept; daring; noble: a heroic ambition.

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

having or involving recourse to boldness, daring, or extreme measures: Heroic measures were taken to save his life.

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

of, relating to, or characteristic of the heroes of antiquity: heroic mythology.

used in heroic poetry.Compare heroic verse.

resembling heroic poetry in language or style; grandiloquent.

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

larger than life-size: a statue of heroic proportions.

noun

Usually heroics. heroic verse.

heroics,

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

Nearby words

herod the great, herodian, herodians, herodias, herodotus, heroic, heroic age, heroic couplet, heroic drama, heroic poem, heroic quatrain

Origin of heroic

1540–50; < Latin hērōicus < Greek hērōïkós of, pertaining to a hero; compare late Middle English heroical, heroicus; see hero, -ic

SYNONYMS FOR heroic

1, 2 dauntless, valiant, valorous, gallant, brave, courageous.

7 epic.

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ANTONYMS FOR heroic

1, 2 cowardly.

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Related forms

he·ro·i·cal·ly, adverbhe·ro·i·cal·ness, he·ro·ic·ness, he·ro·ic·i·ty

[heer-oh-is-i-tee] /ˌhɪər oʊˈɪs ɪ ti/, nounnon·he·ro·ic, adjectivenon·he·ro·i·cal, adjective

non·he·ro·i·cal·ly, adverbnon·he·ro·i·cal·ness, nounnon·he·ro·ic·ness, nounpseu·do·he·ro·ic, adjectivepseu·do·he·ro·i·cal, adjectivepseu·do·he·ro·i·cal·ly, adverbqua·si-he·ro·ic, adjectivequa·si-he·ro·i·cal·ly, adverbsu·per·he·ro·ic, adjectivesu·per·he·ro·i·cal·ly, adverbun·he·ro·ic, adjectiveun·he·ro·ic·ness, nounun·he·ro·i·cal, adjectiveun·he·ro·i·cal·ly, adverbun·he·ro·i·cal·ness, noun

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

Examples from the Web for heroic

Sometimes they do heroic things, sometimes they wish they could.
After The Fall: Introducing The Anti-Villain|Rich Goldstein|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Claret for boys, port for men, and brandy for heroes, according to Dr. Johnson, and Hitch went for the heroic.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hamas called the attack “heroic” and, disgustingly, tweeted out photos of the bodies.
Mass Murder in the Holy City|Michael Tomasky|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Some heroic volunteers, like Spencer, have joined the fight—but not enough.
Why New York’s Ebola Case Will Hurt Infected Patients Everywhere|Abby Haglage|October 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“Like Nina Pham, she is a heroic person—a person who has dedicated her life to helping others,” he told a press conference.
Ebola Nurses Are As Brave As Soldiers|Michael Daly|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In his brief he spoke in the highest terms of the Spanish episcopate, and of the piety and heroic devotion of the priesthood.
The War Upon Religion|Rev. Francis A. Cunningham
He left Mr Monypenny with his head full of thoughts which were not all heroic.
The Ladies Lindores, Vol. 3(of 3)|Margaret Oliphant
In the close of the heroic literature of Iceland a number of general causes are to be found at work.
Epic and Romance|W. P. Ker
Now was the chance for the heroic Chand Moorut; and that warrior was never known to let an opportunity slip.
The Eagle Cliff|R.M. Ballantyne
May our heroic wrath never lessen, nor our holy hate be appeased.
The Daughter of Heaven|Judith Gautier

British Dictionary definitions for heroic

heroic

heroical

/ (hɪˈrəʊɪk) /

adjective

of, like, or befitting a hero

courageous but desperate

relating to or treating of heroes and their deeds

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

(of language, manner, etc) extravagant

prosody of, relating to, or resembling heroic verse

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

RC Church

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-controlheroic virtue
performed or undergone by such a personthe heroic witness of martyrdom

Word Origin and History for heroic

heroic

adj.

1540s, shortened from heroical (early 15c.), also heroycus "noble, magnanimous," from Latin heroicus "of a hero, heroic, mythical," from Greek heroikos "pertaining to heroes," from heros (see hero (n.1)). Earlier was heroical (early 15c.). The Heroic Age in Greece was the time before the return of the armies from the fall of Troy. Related: Heroically. Heroic verse (1610s), decasyllabic iambic, is from Italian.

Medicine definitions for heroic

heroic

[ hĭ-rō′ĭk ]

adj.

Relating to a risky medical procedure that may endanger the patient but also has a possibility of being successful, whereas lesser action would result in failure.

heroic

adjective

noun

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heroic

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heroic

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noun

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heroic

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heroic

adj.

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for heroic