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The English language has no shortage of synonyms for brave. In fact, it even has two different such words from the same Latin verb, valēre ("to have strength"): valiant and valorous. Valiant is the older of the pair, borrowed from the Anglo-French adjective vaillant ("worthy, strong courageous") in the 1300s. Valorous followed in the 1400s, a combination of valor ("strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness")—another valēre descendent—and the adjective suffix -ous. (The form was inspired either by the Middle French word valeureux or the Medieval Latin word valōrōsus.) While the words can be used synonymously, valorous sometimes has an archaic or romantic ring, describing stout-hearted warriors of yore, while the more common word valiant describes soldiers as well as general kinds of bravery or effort.
Synonyms
Examples of valorous in a Sentence
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 5 June 2023
But Merton Ames had belonged to that inspired party of originators, scholars valorous enough to catch hold of new meanings in traditional formulas, resolute enough to withstand the skeptics.
—Cynthia Ozick, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023
Is there anything more infuriating than the Biden administration’s public rhetoric — or, rather, its lack of meaningful rhetoric — in response to the Chinese people’s valorous protests against the monstrous communist regime that enslaves them?
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 29 Nov. 2022
On Thursday, former President and now-2024 candidate Donald Trump announced his next big pursuit: NFTs of himself, cheaply superimposed onto valorous figures like Superman or astronauts.
—Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 15 Dec. 2022
The actor has more than enough talent to take on the smoldering, valorous Bond.
—Evan Romano, Men's Health, 15 Dec. 2022
Another is a valorous action sequence between Strange and Gargantos, an octopus-like monster ripped from the comic book pages, in the streets of New York where the beast wreaks havoc on the city in its attempt to capture America.
—Daron James, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2022
What mattered were the valorous Vietnamese paratroopers.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Aug. 2022
Outside of the White House, some recognized Kitt’s action as valorous.
—Scott Calonico, The New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2022
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'valorous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
15th century, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Valorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/valorous. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
valorous
adjective
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