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

Being courageous worked out in Isnard’s favour when Chanel was a client of hers. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025

Thanks to the help of a courageous tipster, she was recently reunited with her family in Kentucky. —Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 16 Dec. 2025

And yet, in the heart of the chaos, a Muslim bystander risked his life to stop one of the attackers - a courageous act that saved lives and reminded us of the moral clarity that can rise above identity. —Jay Rosenzweig, Time, 14 Dec. 2025

These nonfiction feature films from emerging talent around the world showcase some of the most courageous and extraordinary filmmaking today. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 10 Dec. 2025

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