gallant 1 of 3

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

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2
3

gallant

2 of 3

noun

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

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2

gallant

3 of 3

verb

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gallant
Adjective
Marvel’s Thunderbolts* brings together a huge ensemble cast for a less gallant take on the MCU. Keith Langston, People.com, 1 May 2025 Still, the gallant Pascal gets the plum Joan date that starts with a Ferrari ride. Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024 This time around, a mysterious government official (Brian Cox) is targeting Charles Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, forcing our gallant mutants to forge a tentative truce with Magneto and his legions. Will Leitch, Vulture, 29 July 2024 For nearly a century after the Civil War, terroristic lynchings of Black men in the South were frequently justified as gallant acts by white men to protect their wives and daughters. Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gallant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gallant
Adjective
  • Plum’s absence was sorely felt as what began as a valiant effort by the Sparks — keeping pace with the visiting Storm through the first half — quickly unraveled into a 98-67 blowout loss Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena.
    Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2025
  • Our brave and valiant forces delivered a resounding response, bringing the enemy to its knees.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • And the noble cause that unites us requires no less.
    The Editors, National Review, 24 June 2025
  • At first glance, servant leadership sounds both noble and compelling.
    Julia Korn, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Despite the long odds, most sportsbooks did just fine with Spaun sinking that magnificent 64-foot, 5-inch putt to win it all.
    Vik Chokshi, New York Times, 17 June 2025
  • The service on June 16 came two days after the magnificent celebration of pomp and pageantry at Trooping the Colour, which saw the royal family unite in their military splendor and finery.
    Simon Perry, People.com, 16 June 2025
Noun
  • Now, evidently, dude’s let his guard down and pledged to a band — which is probably good for him.
    Will Hermes, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2025
  • Luke is, first of all, one of the best dudes in the world.
    Melinda Newman, Billboard, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • Prosecutors accused Read, 45, of hitting her boyfriend John O'Keefe with her Lexus SUV in a drunken rage and leaving him to die during a snowstorm on Jan. 29, 2022.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 25 June 2025
  • Francesco recalled a visit from Elizabeth Taylor’s boyfriend who was quite enamored.
    Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • Like many of Anderson’s protagonists, Gustave is a reprobate of the first order, romancing old ladies for their fortunes and such.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 June 2025
  • Many spend time playing Baldur’s Gate 3 splitting time between epic battles and romancing companions.
    Rob Wieland, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Very courageous of his elderly owner to part with him to ensure he was delivered into caring and loving hands.
    Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 June 2025
  • This month, a group of courageous plaintiffs took their fight for fairness to federal court, filing a civil rights lawsuit to hold California accountable.
    Tri Ta, Oc Register, 13 June 2025
Adjective
  • That could mean even greater affordability for smaller businesses adopting AI for their businesses.
    Bernice Ooi, CNBC, 26 June 2025
  • With the right combination of a digital sales and service platform and people, financial institutions can create seamless, personalized experiences while driving greater efficiency and long-term growth.
    Deep Varma, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gallant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gallant. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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