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

Research by Harvard Business School Professor Ranjay Gulati found that courageous and effective leaders create positive narratives that guide them through chaos, often recasting their work as a mission. — Olivia Ludington, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026

The defeat coming against someone playing such courageous tennis is why Wawrinka’s triumph still resonates. — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026

But the ideal itself, again and again, moved those excluded to mount courageous democratic efforts to expand it. — Trygve Throntveit, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Oct. 2026

As with any courageous statement, acceptance is rarely unanimous. — Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 19 Oct. 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