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

May 21 – June 20 A courageous vision can lead you through complex issues. —Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026

Brodie was a two-time Pro Bowler and won the 49ers’ prestigious Len Eshmont Award in 1965 for inspirational and courageous play. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026

Set a century before the events of Game of Thrones and 72 years after House of the Dragon, A Knight of Seven Kingdom follows two unlikely heroes wandering Westeros … a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), and his diminutive squire, Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). —Katie Campione, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2026

What looked like political calculation was, in Mandela’s hands, a courageous act of moral leadership grounded in unity rather than manipulation. —Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 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