Synonyms of gallant

gallant 1 of 3

adjective

ˈga-lənt 

1

as in valiant

feeling or displaying no fear by temperament

a gallant firefighter, rushing into the burning house to save the children

a gallant rescue

Synonyms & Similar Words

• valiant
• courageous
• brave
• heroic
• fearless
• bold
• valorous
• manful
• adventurous
• dauntless
• intrepid
• foolish
• undaunted
• resolute
• stalwart
• stout
• gutsy
• stouthearted
• impulsive
• lionhearted
• gutty
• daring
• doughty
• Spartan
• reckless
• hardy
• spirited
• plucky
• determined
• dashing
• unswerving
• undauntable
• unflinching
• game
• venturous
• greathearted
• spunky
• undismayed
• impetuous
• mettlesome
• undeterred
• venturesome
• mad
• gritty
• brazen
• gamy
• heedless
• audacious
• adventuresome
• imprudent
• foolhardy
• thoughtless
• daredevil
• lunatic
• madcap
• rash
• firm
• hotheaded
• headlong
• incautious
• wild
• nutty
• hasty
• insane
• brash
• overconfident
• unafraid
• reassured
• crazy
• comforted
• precipitate
• overbold
• half-witted
• encouraged
• emboldened
• heartened

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cowardly
• yellow
• timorous
• ungallant
• dastardly
• coward
• timid
• unheroic
• craven
• pusillanimous
• fearful
• spiritless
• spineless
• nerveless
• gutless
• diffident
• shy
• chicken
• mousy
• anxious
• scary
• nervous
• careful
• skittish
• fainthearted
• cautious
• apprehensive
• prudent
• poltroon
• afraid
• lily-livered
• chickenhearted
• uncourageous
• heedful
• frightened
• startled
• milk-livered
• poor-spirited
• unadventurous
• upset
• weakhearted
• chicken-livered
• disturbed
• agitated
• perturbed
• terrified
• unnerved
• panicked
• scared
• spooked
• disconcerted
• weak
• disquieted
• shocked
• unmanly
• horrified
• concerned
• worried
• wimpy
• dismayed
• appalled
• panic-stricken
• terrorized

2

as in noble

having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature

a gallant knight

the members of that service club are known for their gallant service to the community

Synonyms & Similar Words

• noble
• great
• high
• honorable
• sublime
• chivalrous
• magnanimous
• big
• lofty
• valiant
• lordly
• heroic
• high-minded
• natural
• venerable
• worthy
• elevated
• regal
• exalted
• knightly
• greathearted
• princely
• magnificent
• inspiring
• ennobled
• moving
• majestic
• uplifting
• numinous
• august
• glorified

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignoble
• degenerate
• low
• wretched
• base
• vile
• degraded
• sordid
• debased
• vicious
• ugly
• contemptible
• squalid
• little
• offensive
• detestable
• despicable
• abominable
• repulsive
• dastardly
• hateful
• dirty
• sorry
• lousy
• narrow
• mean
• ignominious
• humiliating
• discreditable
• coarse
• degrading
• vulgar
• crude
• small-minded

3

as in magnificent

large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception

a great and gallant sailing ship

Synonyms & Similar Words

• magnificent
• glorious
• epic
• imposing
• majestic
• royal
• proud
• grand
• regal
• heroic
• massive
• noble
• monumental
• impressive
• imperial
• splendid
• wonderful
• operatic
• stately
• colossal
• formidable
• Homeric
• tremendous
• remarkable
• grandiose
• luxurious
• august
• baronial
• lavish
• extraordinary
• sublime
• marvelous
• gorgeous
• princely
• cosmic
• superb
• awesome
• terrific
• magnific
• stupendous
• extravagant
• monstrous
• prodigious
• kingly
• redoubtable
• wondrous
• queenly
• striking
• lordly
• divine
• awful
• inflated
• heavenly
• sumptuous
• apocalyptic
• celestial
• pompous
• prepossessing
• sensational
• opulent
• palatial
• killer
• resplendent
• overblown
• palatine
• splendiferous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• humble
• modest
• lowly
• ordinary
• unimpressive
• unheroic
• common
• average
• unprepossessing
• mediocre
• unimposing
• abject
• shabby
• sordid
• meretricious
• mean
• petty
• trifling
• puny
• trivial
• insignificant
• second-rate
• paltry
• run-of-the-mill
• measly

gallant

2 of 3

noun

gə-ˈlant 

1

as in dude

a man extremely interested in his clothing and personal appearance

he was quite a gallant, primping more than either of his sisters

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dude
• beau
• fop
• Beau Brummell
• macaroni
• pretty boy
• jay
• cavalier
• dandy
• buck
• popinjay
• lounge lizard
• coxcomb
• blade
• exquisite
• swell
• fancy Dan
• dasher
• clotheshorse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slob
• sloven

2

as in boyfriend

a man who courts a woman usually with the goal of marrying her

she had a whole host of gallants vying for her hand in marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

• boyfriend
• man
• fellow
• lover
• suitor
• wooer
• swain
• sweetheart
• dear
• beloved
• sweetie
• beau
• darling
• admirer
• sweet
• steady
• old man
• significant other
• date
• flame
• crush
• spark
• escort
• favorite
• honey
• love
• squeeze
• valentine
• fiancé
• intended
• sweetie pie

gallant

3 of 3

verb

as in to romance

Related Words

• romance
• woo
• attend
• date
• spark
• escort
• court
• take out
• go out
• see
• step out

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective gallant contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of gallant are chivalrous, civil, courteous, and polite. While all these words mean "observant of the forms required by good breeding," gallant and chivalrous imply courteous attentiveness especially to women. gallant suggests spirited and dashing behavior and ornate expressions of courtesy.

a gallant suitor of the old school

Where would chivalrous be a reasonable alternative to gallant?

The words chivalrous and gallant can be used in similar contexts, but chivalrous suggests high-minded and self-sacrificing behavior.

a chivalrous display of duty

When could civil be used to replace gallant?

While the synonyms civil and gallant are close in meaning, civil often suggests little more than the avoidance of overt rudeness.

owed the questioner a civil reply

When can courteous be used instead of gallant?

Although the words courteous and gallant have much in common, courteous implies more actively considerate or dignified politeness.

clerks who were unfailingly courteous to customers

When might polite be a better fit than gallant?

The words polite and gallant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, polite commonly implies polish of speech and manners and sometimes suggests an absence of cordiality.

if you can't be pleasant, at least be polite

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of gallant

Adjective

But the Ballances were more than gallant warriors – in fact, a life-size oil painting of Marti’s great-grandfather Charles Ballance’s wife and children – including her grandfather Willis as a 3-year-old – hangs in a place of honor at the Illinois State Museum in Springfield. — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026

More significant and symbolic than an ultimately gallant failure in Mumbai was the moment Harry Brook effectively dropped the World Cup with the last mistake of what has been the most turbulent period of his meteoric rise to become one of the best batters in the world. — Paul Newman, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026

While Son of Hitler takes plenty of creative liberty when the titular character is recruited to assassinate his famous father for the Allies, the fate of the real-life Loret isn’t so gallant. — Rosemary Counter, Vanity Fair, 19 Jan. 2026

Christ pulls him out of a tiny hole, like a gallant medieval knight rescuing a maiden in distress. — Mary Dzon, The Conversation, 12 Dec. 2025

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