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

Those early songs and some of that stuff was so courageous, so good. — Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026

Featuring seascape settings and insightful dialogue, this coastal noir tale delivers important ideas with a courageous heart. — Monitor Reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Aug. 2026

President Harry Truman’s courageous decision to support the United Nations in defending the South against invasion from the North laid the foundation for today’s remarkably successful Republic of Korea. — Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026

But no revelation is as courageous or groundbreaking as Panettiere’s description of her experience with postpartum depression. — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 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