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
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2024
Until August by Gabriel García Márquez, translated from the Spanish by Anne McLean and edited by Cristóbal Pera
Susan Tallman
How American Eyes Got Modern
The midcentury ideal of art as a departure into the unknown was not the exclusive property of heroic painters.
—David Shulman, The New York Review of Books, 18 Apr. 2024
She’s joined by Teyonah Parris, one of the breakout stars of 2021’s WandaVision, and Iman Vellani, who anchored 2022’s Ms. Marvel with a heroic level of infectious enthusiasm.
—The Verge, 18 Apr. 2024
That extended build-up includes, get this, a lengthy ceremony in which many of the heroic characters are presented with awards.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Apr. 2024
Huth told Storyful that Rivera saved the woman and elderly man as his children witnessed their father’s heroic event unfold.
—USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
Running out of food and water while facing constant peril from Russian bombs, a heroic team of zookeepers and volunteers undertake a daring rescue.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 17 Apr. 2024
On tradition and change; a remarkable college president; the wisdom of Phil Gramm; a righteous, heroic nun; and more
All Our Opinion in Your Inbox
NR Daily is delivered right to you every afternoon.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 16 Apr. 2024
Kahneman’s careful, doubting mode of doing science was heroic.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2024
Mike Harley, arkansasonline.com, 12 Mar. 2024
The United States splashed past Canada on Wednesday night in a game that will be remembered as much for the deluged pitch as the heroics of goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.
—Patrick Smith, NBC News, 7 Mar. 2024
One moment, Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi tells a young Luke Skywalker about his father’s heroics and prepares to gift the young boy with his father’s lightsaber.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 10 Mar. 2024
The Trojans needed heroics at the end of regulation to avert a loss against Arizona on Thursday.
—Jeff Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024
Same with those other birds, as the Orioles won the World Series in 1970, besting the Cincinnati Reds 4 games to 1, thanks in large part to the heroics of Brooks Robinson.
—Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 29 Jan. 2024
Perry did all of his last-minute heroics with four fouls.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024
Musgrove’s heroics have also earned praise from Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell.
—Brian Brant, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024
Even after that, Jackson had more heroics in store.
—Craig Meyer, The Courier-Journal, 28 Jan. 2024
Adjective
Bobrovsky’s shutout Bobrovsky had so many heroic moments during the Panthers’ playoff run.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2024
Until August by Gabriel García Márquez, translated from the Spanish by Anne McLean and edited by Cristóbal Pera
Susan Tallman
How American Eyes Got Modern
The midcentury ideal of art as a departure into the unknown was not the exclusive property of heroic painters.
—David Shulman, The New York Review of Books, 18 Apr. 2024
She’s joined by Teyonah Parris, one of the breakout stars of 2021’s WandaVision, and Iman Vellani, who anchored 2022’s Ms. Marvel with a heroic level of infectious enthusiasm.
—The Verge, 18 Apr. 2024
That extended build-up includes, get this, a lengthy ceremony in which many of the heroic characters are presented with awards.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Apr. 2024
Huth told Storyful that Rivera saved the woman and elderly man as his children witnessed their father’s heroic event unfold.
—USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
Running out of food and water while facing constant peril from Russian bombs, a heroic team of zookeepers and volunteers undertake a daring rescue.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 17 Apr. 2024
On tradition and change; a remarkable college president; the wisdom of Phil Gramm; a righteous, heroic nun; and more
All Our Opinion in Your Inbox
NR Daily is delivered right to you every afternoon.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 16 Apr. 2024
Kahneman’s careful, doubting mode of doing science was heroic.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2024
Noun
Aside from the early heroics of Brown, Jaylen Carey chipped in 11 points in the opening half and finished with 15 on the night.
—Mike Harley, arkansasonline.com, 12 Mar. 2024
The United States splashed past Canada on Wednesday night in a game that will be remembered as much for the deluged pitch as the heroics of goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.
—Patrick Smith, NBC News, 7 Mar. 2024
One moment, Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi tells a young Luke Skywalker about his father’s heroics and prepares to gift the young boy with his father’s lightsaber.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 10 Mar. 2024
The Trojans needed heroics at the end of regulation to avert a loss against Arizona on Thursday.
—Jeff Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024
Same with those other birds, as the Orioles won the World Series in 1970, besting the Cincinnati Reds 4 games to 1, thanks in large part to the heroics of Brooks Robinson.
—Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 29 Jan. 2024
Perry did all of his last-minute heroics with four fouls.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024
Musgrove’s heroics have also earned praise from Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell.
—Brian Brant, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024
Even after that, Jackson had more heroics in store.
—Craig Meyer, The Courier-Journal, 28 Jan. 2024
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 25 Apr. 2024.
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