stalwart

[stawl-wert]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR stalwart ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

strongly and stoutly built; sturdy and robust.

strong and brave; valiant: a stalwart knight.

firm, steadfast, or uncompromising: a stalwart supporter of the U.N.

noun

a physically stalwart person.

a steadfast or uncompromising partisan: They counted on the party stalwarts for support in the off-year campaigns.

Origin of stalwart

1325–75; Middle English (Scots), variant of stalward, earlier stalwurthe; see stalworth

Related formsstal·wart·ly, adverbstal·wart·ness, noun

Stalwart

[stawl-wert]

noun

a conservative Republican in the 1870s and 1880s, especially one opposed to civil service and other reforms during the administrations of presidents Rutherford B. Hayes and James A. Garfield.

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

Related Words for stalwart

tenacious, intrepid, vigorous, fearless, redoubtable, indomitable, dependable, stout, staunch, brave, tough, daring, solid, steamroller, bound, husky, bold, powerhouse, athletic, brawny

Examples from the Web for stalwart

Contemporary Examples of stalwart

The specter of this virus fills some of our most stalwart souls with unreasoning dread even when it is no immediate threat.
Ebola Nurses Are As Brave As Soldiers
Michael Daly
October 17, 2014
We are left with stalwart genres (action, rom com) and classic roles (prude, seductress, jock, backstory-less best friend).
It Ain't Easy Being Bisexual on TV
Amy Zimmerman
August 14, 2014
Ellison, a stalwart progressive, was the first Muslim-American elected to Congress.
Even Left-Wing Politicians Can’t Quit Israel
Tim Mak
July 30, 2014
When the Stalwart vanguard reached the perimeter, their ranks broke in confusion.
The GOP’s Last Identity Crisis Remade U.S. Politics
Michael Wolraich
July 24, 2014
Without presidential intervention, the committee would certainly authenticate the Stalwart delegation.
The GOP’s Last Identity Crisis Remade U.S. Politics
Michael Wolraich
July 24, 2014

Historical Examples of stalwart

“A tall and stalwart esquire, methinks,” said Master Headley.
The Armourer's Prentices
Charlotte M. Yonge
The stalwart man was buttoned up in a dark overcoat, and carried an umbrella.
The Secret Agent
Joseph Conrad
Another voice, stalwart, elated, cut through it like a sword.
The Cavalier
George Washington Cable
He was the mightiest man of valor in that same day of this our life, stalwart and stately.
Beowulf
Anonymous
If I had never had a trouble before I had one now—large, stalwart, robust.
The First Violin
Jessie Fothergill

British Dictionary definitions for stalwart

stalwart

adjective

strong and sturdy; robust

solid, dependable, and courageousstalwart citizens

resolute and firm

noun

a stalwart person, esp a supporter

Derived Formsstalwartly, adverbstalwartness, noun

Word Origin for stalwart

Old English stǣlwirthe serviceable, from stǣl, shortened from stathol support + wierthe worth 1

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 stalwart

adj.

late 14c., Scottish variant of Old English stælwierðe "good, serviceable," probably a contracted compound of staðol "foundation, support" (from Proto-Germanic *stathlaz, from PIE root *sta- "to stand, set down, make or be firm;" see stet) + wierðe "good, excellent, worthy" (see worth). Another theory traces the first element of stælwierðe to Old English stæl "place," from Proto-Germanic *stælaz. In U.S. political history, applied 1877 by Blaine to Republicans who refused to give up their hostility to and distrust of the South.