variants
or less commonly heroical
1
: of or relating to courageous people or the mythological or legendary figures of antiquity : of, relating to, resembling, or suggesting heroes especially of antiquity
heroic legends
the heroic age
2
a
: exhibiting or marked by courage and daring
It was a heroic decision.
b
: supremely noble or self-sacrificing
a heroic gesture
received medals for their heroic actions
3
a
: of impressive size, power, extent, or effect
a heroic voice
b(1)
: of great intensity : extreme
heroic effort
(2)
: of a kind that is likely only to be undertaken to save a life
heroic surgery
4
: of, relating to, or constituting drama written during the Restoration in heroic couplets and concerned with a conflict between love and honor
1
: a verse or poem written during the Restoration using rhyming couplets in iambic pentameter and concerned with a conflict between love and honor : a heroic verse or poem
2
heroics plural
a
: flamboyantly boastful language or action
avoids heroics in his writing
b
: courageous, noble, or self-sacrificing action or behavior : heroic action or behavior
the heroics of the civil rights movement
c
: determined effort especially in the face of difficulty
Synonyms
Examples of heroic in a Sentence
Adjective
It was heroic of those women to fight for the right to vote.
The soldiers received medals for their heroic actions.
Despite heroic efforts to save the business, it ultimately went bankrupt.
a political battle of heroic proportions
Recent Examples on the Web
Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 19 Aug. 2024
Like many of us, Doja Cat fell for the Stranger Things breakout star, who earned internet boyfriend status by playing heroic rocker Eddie Munson in season four.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 18 Aug. 2024
Robert Ilich, CNN, 11 Aug. 2024
As a freshman during the 2010-11 season, Lamb averaged 14.2 points during the 2011 Big East Tournament, when the Huskies famously won five games in as many days behind Walker’s heroics.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for heroic 
Adjective
Accustomed to playing charming heroic protagonists, he is insulted by the offer of a supporting role.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 19 Aug. 2024
Like many of us, Doja Cat fell for the Stranger Things breakout star, who earned internet boyfriend status by playing heroic rocker Eddie Munson in season four.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 18 Aug. 2024
Noun
After Steph Curry drained eight 3-pointers Saturday to help lead the United States to gold in a 98-87 win over France, the Instagram account for McDonald’s France posted a message Sunday directed at the Golden State Warriors sharpshooter’s heroics.
—Robert Ilich, CNN, 11 Aug. 2024
As a freshman during the 2010-11 season, Lamb averaged 14.2 points during the 2011 Big East Tournament, when the Huskies famously won five games in as many days behind Walker’s heroics.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for heroic
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'heroic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near heroic
Cite this Entry
“Heroic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heroic. Accessed 9 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share