stalwart

¹

[ stawl-wert ]

adjective

1. strongly and stoutly built; sturdy and robust.
2. strong and brave; valiant:

   a stalwart knight.

3. firm, steadfast, or uncompromising:

   a stalwart supporter of the U.N.

noun

1. a physically stalwart person.
2. a steadfast or uncompromising partisan:

   They counted on the party stalwarts for support in the off-year campaigns.

Stalwart

²

[ stawl-wert ]

noun

1. 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.

stalwart

/ ˈstɔːlwət /

adjective

1. strong and sturdy; robust
2. solid, dependable, and courageous

   stalwart citizens

3. resolute and firm

noun

1. a stalwart person, esp a supporter

Derived Forms

• ˈstalwartness, noun
• ˈstalwartly, adverb

Other Words From

• stalwart·ly adverb
• stalwart·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of stalwart¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of stalwart¹

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

Example Sentences

We’re all in happy, however, that Leeds United is back in the EPL — not necessarily because of their style, but because Geoff would very much like all former stalwarts relegated out of the Premier League to find their way back in.

From FiveThirtyEight

Paid search advertising has always been a stalwart of performance in economic downturns.

From Search Engine Land

People in stalwart democracies such as Canada, Germany, and the UK are particularly critical.

From MIT Technology Review

The likes of Apple and Amazon are thriving as consumers buy digital gadgets for working at home and flock to online shopping, while value stalwarts in such sectors as airlines, retail, and hotels have taken their worst beating in decades.

From Fortune

The Dodgers, winners of seven-straight division titles and two of the last three NL pennants, return a lineup with stalwarts like Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy, Justin Turner and Corey Seager, and they added a star in a trade for Mookie Betts.

From FiveThirtyEight

The specter of this virus fills some of our most stalwart souls with unreasoning dread even when it is no immediate threat.

From The Daily Beast

We are left with stalwart genres (action, rom com) and classic roles (prude, seductress, jock, backstory-less best friend).

From The Daily Beast

Ellison, a stalwart progressive, was the first Muslim-American elected to Congress.

From The Daily Beast

The committee chairman, Postmaster General Henry C. Payne, was a Wisconsin Stalwart, and the other members were on his side.

From The Daily Beast

When the Stalwart vanguard reached the perimeter, their ranks broke in confusion.

From The Daily Beast

Big, stalwart men, the power of conscious strength in their step and bearing.

From Project Gutenberg

She falls in love with a handsome, stalwart youth, Vincèn, son of a poor basket-maker.

From Project Gutenberg

The poet describes Vincèn, a dark, stalwart youth of sixteen, and tells of his skill at his trade.

From Project Gutenberg

Now he rode with me, well armed and stalwart, as my servant, and one could hardly want a more likely looking one.

From Project Gutenberg

For a year she had done nothing except to take a few small prizes, and her stalwart crew were tired of that sort of work.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dependable
• fearless
• indomitable
• intrepid
• redoubtable
• staunch
• stout
• tenacious
• vigorous