brave

¹brave

adj \ˈbrāv\

brav·erbrav·est

Definition of BRAVE

1

: having or showing courage <a brave soldier> <a brave smile>

2

: making a fine show : colorful <brave banners flying in the wind>

3

: excellent, splendid <the brave fire I soon had going — J. F. Dobie>

— brave·ly adverb

Examples of BRAVE

1. She gave us a brave smile.
2. He lost his brave fight against the disease.

Origin of BRAVE

Middle French, from Old Italian & Old Spanish bravo courageous, wild, probably from Latin barbarus barbarous

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to BRAVE

Synonyms: bold, courageous, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant, greathearted, gutsy, gutty, heroic (also heroical), intrepid, lionhearted, manful, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, undauntable, undaunted, valiant, valorous

Antonyms: chicken, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, coward, cowardly, craven, dastardly, fainthearted, fearful, gutless, lily-livered, milk-livered [archaic], nerveless, poltroon, poor-spirited, pusillanimous, spineless, spiritless, timorous, uncourageous, ungallant, unheroic, weakhearted, yellow

Related Words: determined, firm, game, gamy (or gamey), gritty, plucky, resolute, Spartan, undeterred, undismayed, unflinching, unswerving; mettlesome, spirited, spunky; adventuresome, adventurous, audacious, daring, dashing, hardy, venturesome, venturous; crazy, foolish, half-witted, insane, lunatic, mad, nutty; brash, brazen, daredevil, foolhardy, heedless, hotheaded, impetuous, imprudent, impulsive, incautious, madcap, overbold, overconfident, rash, reckless, thoughtless, wild; hasty, headlong, precipitate; comforted, emboldened, encouraged, heartened, reassured, unafraid

Near Antonyms: diffident, mousy (or mousey), scary, shy, skittish, timid; anxious, apprehensive, nervous; careful, cautious, heedful, prudent, unadventurous; afraid, agitated, disconcerted, disquieted, disturbed, frightened, horrified, panicked, panic-stricken, perturbed, scared, shocked, spooked, startled, terrified, terrorized, unnerved, upset; appalled, concerned, dismayed, worried; unmanly, weak, wimpy

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Rhymes with BRAVE

cave, clave, crave, fave, glaive, grave, knave, lave, nave, pave, rave, save, shave, slave, stave, waive, wave, Wave