staunch

[stawnch, stahnch]

See more synonyms for staunch on Thesaurus.com

adjective, staunch·er, staunch·est.

firm or steadfast in principle, adherence, loyalty, etc., as a person: a staunch Republican; a staunch friend.
characterized by firmness, steadfastness, or loyalty: He delivered a staunch defense of the government.
strong; substantial: a staunch little hut in the woods.

impervious to water or other liquids; watertight: a staunch vessel.

Origin of staunch

1375–1425; late Middle English sta(u)nch < Middle French estanche (feminine), estanc (masculine), derivative of estancher to stanch¹

Related formsstaunch·ly, adverbstaunch·ness, noun

Synonyms for staunch

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1. constant, true, faithful. See steadfast. 2. resolute. 3. stout, sound.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for staunchest

steadfast, reliable, trustworthy, loyal, stout, ardent, stalwart, sound, firm, secure, fast, stable, true, constant, faithful, inflexible, stiff, strong, sure, tough

Examples from the Web for staunchest

Contemporary Examples of staunchest

Ironically, according to Hitner, women were some of his staunchest allies in getting the Massachusetts law reformed.
Is Alimony Anti-Feminist?
Keli Goff
August 25, 2014
Earlier this year, in fact, Krugman managed to offend some of his staunchest ideological confreres.
Paul Krugman’s Nasty and Inane Attack on ‘Libertarian Populism’
Nick Gillespie
July 19, 2013
Passages in which Knox contemplates suicide—and even how she would do it—will surely soften even her staunchest critics.
Revealed: The Softer Side of Amanda Knox
Barbie Latza Nadeau
April 30, 2013
How come the turnout is higher, if most of Netanyahu's staunchest opponents expect him to remain in office?
Resigned To Loss, But Optimism On The Center-Left
Fania Oz-Salzberger
January 22, 2013
Holbrooke could be exhausting, even to his staunchest allies and defenders.
Richard Holbrooke's Last Mission in Afghanistan by David Rohde
David Rohde
November 26, 2011

Historical Examples of staunchest

I used to be one of his staunchest supporters, but I draw the line at lunacy.
Ireland as It Is
Robert John Buckley (AKA R.J.B.)
He was one of Harry Hamilton's staunchest friends and admirers.
A Voyage with Captain Dynamite
Charles Edward Rich
No, simpleton, he is one of the staunchest we have for the Ministry.
The Journal to Stella
Jonathan Swift
My family had been among the staunchest of Lutherans for generations.
Wagner as I Knew Him
Ferdinand Christian Wilhelm Praeger
And Emma's brother, the son of William's staunchest vassal, how fared he?
The Siege of Norwich Castle
Matilda Maria Blake

British Dictionary definitions for staunchest

staunch

adjective

loyal, firm, and dependablea staunch supporter
solid or substantial in construction
rare (of a ship, etc) watertight; seaworthy

Derived Formsstaunchly, adverbstaunchness, noun

Word Origin for staunch

C15: (originally: watertight): from Old French estanche, from estanchier to stanch

staunch

verb, noun

a variant spelling of stanch

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 staunchest

staunch

adj.

early 15c., "impervious to water," from Old French estanche "firm, watertight," fem. of estanc "dried, exhausted, wearied, vanquished," from Vulgar Latin *stanticare, probably from Latin stans (genitive stantis), present participle of stare "to stand," from PIE root *sta- "to stand" (see stet). Sense of "strong, substantial" first recorded mid-15c.; of persons, "standing firm and true to one's principles" from 1620s.