courage

noun

cour·​age ˈkər-ij 

ˈkə-rij

: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty

Synonyms

• bravery
• heroism
• gallantry
• courageousness
• prowess
• nerve

Choose the Right Synonym for courage

courage, mettle, spirit, resolution, tenacity mean mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship.

courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty.

the courage to support unpopular causes

mettle suggests an ingrained capacity for meeting strain or difficulty with fortitude and resilience.

a challenge that will test your mettle

spirit also suggests a quality of temperament enabling one to hold one's own or keep up one's morale when opposed or threatened.

her spirit was unbroken by failure

resolution stresses firm determination to achieve one's ends.

the resolution of pioneer women

tenacity adds to resolution implications of stubborn persistence and unwillingness to admit defeat.

held to their beliefs with great tenacity

Examples of courage in a Sentence

Eunice Kennedy Shriver … didn't buy into the propaganda of her day that women had to be soft and submissive. That took courage back then, because she grew up in a family that expected a lot from the boys and very little from the girls. —Maria Shriver, Time, 26 Oct. 2009

Sometimes when I debate whether to risk my individuality or conform, the memory of my son's picture brings me courage. —Sue Monk Kidd, Reader's Digest, August 1990

But as long as your courage holds out you may as well go right ahead making a fool of yourself. All brave men are fools. —Robert Frost 17 Apr. 1915, in Selected Letters of Robert Frost,  1964

She has the courage to support unpopular causes.

It takes courage to stand up for your rights.

Recent Examples on the Web

Your skills, your experience, and your courage have never been more essential. —Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025

His reactions, his resilience, hunger, ambition and courage impressed amid the acrimony of defeat after defeat. —Andy Mitten, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2025

Women leaders can stay grounded, make bold decisions and lead with confidence, clarity, courage and intention. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025

Ledbetter’s courage brought her message all the way to the Supreme Court. —Vicki Salemi, Boston Herald, 10 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English corage, from Anglo-French curage, from quer, coer heart, from Latin cor — more at heart

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing courage

• courage under fire
• Dutch courage
• pluck up (the) courage
• screw up the/one's courage
• (someone's) courage fails him/her
• the courage of one's convictions

Rhymes for courage

• burrage
• demurrage
• discourage
• encourage

Kids Definition

courage

noun

cour·​age ˈkər-ij 

ˈkə-rij

: strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger or difficulty

Etymology

Middle English corage "the heart as a source of feelings, spirit, confidence," from early French curage (same meaning), from coer "heart," from Latin cor "heart" — related to cordial