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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Noun
Fiennes exhibits that side of him without apology, which only makes his gallant side feel all the more genuine. Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 June 2025 Each year, Scouts, Scouters, veterans and other community groups from all over the Bay Area gather in tribute to these gallant men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country. Karl Mondon, Mercury News, 25 May 2025 Curiosity is an optimistic treasure hunt—a gallant search that occurs without proof or guarantee. Chip Bell, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025 Still, the gallant Pascal gets the plum Joan date that starts with a Ferrari ride. Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for gallant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gallant
Adjective
  • Call it a valiant, optimistic, perhaps even a calamitous misreading.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
  • In addition to implementing many voluntary changes, and even after a valiant legal fight and court victory, Harvard may still make a deal to get Trump off its back.
    Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The affection Agnes holds for her children and the anger aimed at her husband, not to mention a world cruel enough to rob her of a child, are both tuned with precision to crack your noble heart.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
  • For the Estarházy’s have been the preeminent Hungarian noble family, with origins in the Middle Ages and the greatest landowners, since long before 1776 was even a notion in the mind of Thomas Jefferson.
    Louis J. Esterhazy, Footwear News, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • All of them have been magnificent.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2025
  • All of them have been magnificent.
    Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The dude found dead in the ranch with his throat slit.
    Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Popular dude During off times in college, Nestor returns to Marist and runs middle-school camps for defensive backs.
    Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • On September 5, the Friends actress was spotted enjoying a New York City date night with her boyfriend, Jim Cutis.
    Averi Baudler, People.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Both The Times and PIX11 report that Thomas is Mitchell's boyfriend.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The announcement came along with five shots of Kelce kneeling and the couple romancing in a garden blooming with pink and white flowers, framed by an arbor covered in green vines.
    Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 26 Aug. 2025
  • The real question everyone should be asking themselves is who will be the first to romance Mercer’s character?
    Dana Reboe, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • This is a courageous act that requires vulnerability over cowardice.
    Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The school has been the courageous standard bearer of academic freedom in the assault on higher education.
    Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Yet his work does demand greater attention.
    Mark Holgate, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Europe staged one of the greatest comebacks in Ryder Cup history, winning eight matches and halving another to clinch the Cup by half a point.
    Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gallant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gallant. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

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