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Synonyms

manful

American  
[man-fuhl] / ˈmæn fəl /

adjective

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


manful British  
/ ˈmænfʊl /

adjective

  1. a less common word for manly

"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

Related Words

See manly.

Other Word Forms

  • manfully adverb
  • manfulness noun
  • unmanful adjective
  • unmanfully adverb
  • unmanfulness noun

Etymology

Origin of manful

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

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.

It will star North Carolina guard Caleb Love stepping to the top of the arc and rocketing in a manful three-point shot with 25 seconds left for a 78-74 lead that held.

From Washington Post • Apr. 2, 2022

Conquest would allow American men to shed the temptations of the “slothful life” and become a “more manful race.”

From New York Times • Dec. 4, 2021

Tim D., making a manful effort with one of Harry's memorial Emerald Stingers.

From Golf Digest • Sep. 18, 2016

Meanwhile, The Royal Baby, by Tony Bradman and Tony Ross, is a manful attempt to meet current frenzied speculation about the contents of the Duchess's hillock head-on, without pandering to it.

From The Guardian • Jul. 19, 2013

Then some being shamed by his mercy overcame their fear and went on, and the others took new hope, hearing of a manful deed within their measure that they could turn to, and they departed.

From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien