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definitions

valiant

[val-yuhnt]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR valiant ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

boldly courageous; brave; stout-hearted: a valiant soldier.
marked by or showing bravery or valor; heroic: to make a valiant effort.
worthy; excellent.

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RELATED WORDS

gallant, noble, intrepid, vigorous, fearless, strong-willed, gutsy, indomitable, plucky, stout, courageous, heroic, adventurous, assertive, audacious, bold, chivalrous, dauntless, game, grand

Origin of valiant

1275–1325; Middle English valia(u)nt < Anglo-French; Middle French vaillant, present participle of valoir to be of worth < Latin valēre; see -ant
Related formsval·iant·ly, adverbval·iant·ness, nouno·ver·val·iant, adjectiveo·ver·val·iant·ly, adverbo·ver·val·iant·ness, nounun·val·iant, adjectiveun·val·iant·ly, adverbun·val·iant·ness, noun

Synonyms for valiant

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR valiant ON THESAURUS.COM
1. valorous, dauntless.

Synonym study

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

Examples from the Web for valiant

Contemporary Examples of valiant

Historical Examples of valiant

  • When the Huns invaded Gaul, this skilled and valiant commander flew to its relief.

  • The valiant prelate passed the rest of his days in seclusion, supported by the alms of the faithful.

    The Jesuits, 1534-1921

    Thomas J. Campbell

  • But there was one of all that gang who did not flee, and that was the valiant hound.

  • Yet one by one the great trees toppled and fell before his valiant strokes.

    Vermont

    Rowland E. Robinson

  • Fare ye well, at home, most upright judges, and in warfare most valiant combatants.

British Dictionary definitions for valiant

valiant

adjective

courageous, intrepid, or stout-hearted; brave
marked by bravery or couragea valiant deed
Derived Formsvaliance or valiancy, nounvaliantly, adverb

Word Origin for valiant

C14: from Old French vaillant, from valoir to be of value, from Latin valēre to be strong
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 valiant
adj.

early 14c. (late 12c. in surnames), from Anglo-French and Old French valliant "stalwart, brave," from present participle of valoir "be worthy," originally "be strong," from Latin valere "be strong, be well, be worth, have power, be able," from PIE root *wal- "be strong" (cf. Old English wealdan "to rule," Old High German -walt, -wald "power" (in personal names), Old Norse valdr "ruler," Old Church Slavonic vlasti "to rule over," Lithuanian valdyti "to have power," Celtic *walos- "ruler," Old Irish flaith "dominion," Welsh gallu "to be able"). Related: Valiantly.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper