staunch

[ stawnch, stahnch ]

/ stɔntʃ, stɑntʃ /

SEE 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.

Words nearby staunch

staubach, staudinger, stauffenberg, staumrel, staun, staunch, staunton, staurion, staurolite, stauropegion, stauroplegia

Also stanch.

Origin of staunch

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

SYNONYMS FOR staunch

1 constant, true, faithful. See steadfast.

2 resolute.

3 stout, sound.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR staunch ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM staunch

staunch·ly, adverbstaunch·ness, noun

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

Examples from the Web for 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|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
He had been from the very beginning one of the staunchest adherents of Bacon and the people's party.
The Story of Bacon's Rebellion|Mary Newton Stanard
The truth is, though Swift was among the staunchest of friends, he is not among the most sociable of authors.
The Art of Letters|Robert Lynd
More than one of his staunchest supporters began to waver in their allegiance.
'As Gold in the Furnace'|John E. Copus
Mrs. Kranz, the large German woman, was one of the Kenway girls staunchest friends.
The Corner House Girls Snowbound|Grace Brooks Hill
No, simpleton, he is one of the staunchest we have for the Ministry.
The Journal to Stella|Jonathan Swift

British Dictionary definitions for staunchest (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 staunchest (2 of 2)

staunch²