courageous

adjective

cou·​ra·​geous kə-ˈrā-jəs 

: having or characterized by courage : brave

a courageous soldier

a courageous decision

courageously adverb

courageousness noun

Synonyms of courageous

• brave
• fearless
• valiant
• heroic
• gallant
• bold

Examples of courageous in a Sentence

She was a courageous woman who wasn't afraid to support unpopular causes.

the courageous decision to quit rather than obey an illegal order

Recent Examples on the Web

Holding them together is their courageous mother, Olga, who keeps them looking ahead, even when their future is uncertain. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 16 July 2026

Some of them have chosen to stay quiet for understandable reasons, but others have made courageous efforts over the course of many years to tell these stories. — CBS News, 12 July 2026

Oh to be half as courageous as those two wonderful people—Ethel and Julius Rosenberg. — Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026

With courageous tennis and heaps of that necessary self-belief, Muchová beat Gauff 6-2, 1-6, 7-6(12-10) to advance to her second Grand Slam final and first at Wimbledon. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 9 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English corageous, borrowed from Anglo-French corajus, from corage courage + -us, -ous -ous

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for courageous

• advantageous
• contagious
• outrageous
• disadvantageous

Kids Definition

courageous

adjective

cou·​ra·​geous kə-ˈrā-jəs 

: having or marked by courage : brave

courageously adverb

courageousness noun