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

Although Argentina recovered from the defeat and reached the final, the Cameroon team’s courageous performance has become the stuff of World Cup legend. —Tushaar Kuthiala, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 June 2026

Marmo sees Bruce’s life as tragical, comical but also adventurous and courageous. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2026

But the fund’s director is courageous and fights to keep making films the government doesn’t like at all. —Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 June 2026

Others strolled barefoot through the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, named after a courageous man who fought for freedom, not for presidents. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 June 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