staunch

[ stawnch, stahnch ]

/ stɔntʃ, stɑntʃ /

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See synonyms for: staunch / staunchest / staunchly / staunchness 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR staunch

1 constant, true, faithful.

2 resolute.

3 stable, solid.

See synonyms for staunch on Thesaurus.com

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Sometimes stanch .

Origin of staunch

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English sta(u)nch, from Middle French estanche (feminine), estanc (masculine), derivative of estancher “to close, stop”; see stanch¹

synonym study for staunch

1. See steadfast.

OTHER WORDS FROM staunch

staunch·ly, adverbstaunch·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use staunch in a sentence

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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
But perhaps of them all, their best and staunchest friends were old Dan Higgins and his daughter, Meggy.
The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle|Laura Lee Hope
Stewart was an upholder of Whig principles, when the Scottish government was in the hands of the staunchest Tories.
The English Utilitarians, Volume I.|Leslie Stephen
He and I, and Peterkin afterwards, became the best and staunchest friends that ever tossed together on the stormy waves.
The Coral Island|R.M. Ballantyne
Liber and his colleague Dahn were at that time among the staunchest supporters of the policy of the Entente in Russia.
The myth of the Jewish menace in world affairs|Lucien Wolf
The Senator from Stackpole reassured all of these with whom he talked, and was one of their staunchest allies and supporters.
In the Arena|Booth Tarkington

British Dictionary definitions for staunch (1 of 2)

staunch¹

/ (stɔːntʃ) /

adjective

loyal, firm, and dependablea staunch supporter

solid or substantial in construction

rare (of a ship, etc) watertight; seaworthy

Derived forms of staunch

staunchly, adverbstaunchness, noun

Word Origin for staunch

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

British Dictionary definitions for staunch (2 of 2)

staunch²