GALLANT Synonyms: 344 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

gallant 1 of 3

adjective

ˈga-lənt

Definition of gallant

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in magnificent

large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception a great and gallant sailing ship

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

gallant

2 of 3

noun

gə-ˈlant

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

slob
sloven

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

gallant

3 of 3

verb

as in to romance

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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

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 See All Example Sentences for gallant

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gallant

Adjective

The Florida Panthers were able to mount a valiant comeback in San Jose, rallying from three goals down in the second period and scoring two in the third before ultimately falling in overtime.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Despite a valiant effort on the water, that milestone failed to normalize a more ever-present female presence at the Cup for almost three decades.

— Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of valiant

Adjective

The bones are impressive, with rare, double frontage onto two canals, and countless freschi, mosaics and other historic holdovers from its centuries as a noble home.

— Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026
But Dovzhenko goes a step further by making his characters look less like statues than like natural features, the wrinkles on their faces as noble as riverbeds.

— Sophie Pinkham, The New York Review of Books, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of noble

Adjective

Outperformance for the non-magnificent S & P 493 would come at key point for the stock market, which has chugged along fine on the headline level thanks to the megacaps but has seen its breadth weaken considerably beneath the surface.

— Sarah Min, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
Waugh was a magnificent writer, and his prose has a rare gravity and balance.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of magnificent

Noun

These two dudes hit me in the head and pointed a gun at me with a knife and then took off.

— Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
The rumba is much slower and more controlled than Ezra’s had to do before, which is a challenge at first, but my dude clearly gets the hang of it by showtime.

— Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of dude

Noun

Ines De Ramon stepped onto the London red carpet in a sheer lace gown on Friday night accompanied by boyfriend Brad Pitt.

— Erin Wisti, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2026
The woman’s boyfriend, an off-duty police officer, then placed Gonzalez in handcuffs, according to the statement.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of boyfriend

Verb

That’s not to say nothing happens — Cyd (an excellent Jessie Pinnick) romances a nonbinary barista and bonds with her writer aunt — but the events take second fiddle to the 16-year-old’s exhilaratingly ordinary journey of self-discovery.

— Rachel Simon, Vulture, 19 June 2026
Artificial intelligence headliners are romancing universal basic income (UBI).

— Carrie Brandon Elliot, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026

Definition of romance

Adjective

Madison has made a smart choice for her biggest role since bagging an Oscar for Anora; her character’s trajectory from Facebook believer through disillusioned outlier to courageous whistleblower is stirringly rendered.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
The far-from-basic residence showcases courageous expression.

— Kelly Allen, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of courageous

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“Gallant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gallant. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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