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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Luckily, her gallant Eddington co-stars Austin Butler and Pedro Pascal were there to protect her from the crazed abeille. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 16 May 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for gallant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gallant
Adjective
  • While valiant efforts have been made to protect and preserve some of Florida’s wild places, the pace of preservation has not kept pace with the pace of loss.
    Joe Murphy, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2025
  • But after a valiant comeback effort, Pete Alonso struck out with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, and an error by third baseman Brett Baty in the top of the 10th handed the Guardians back the lead.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • By sincerely comforting and relying on each other, their love becomes noble.
    Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
  • Again, this doesn’t appear to be entirely selfless or noble, as these plans are part of his attempt to get time served for his two convictions of transportation to engage in prostitution.
    Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • To call this 1,184 hp street-legal Prancing Horse magnificent feels like an understatement.
    Jonny Lieberman, Robb Report, 16 Aug. 2025
  • So the first stage of our trip was to visit Avenue of the Giants, the magnificent 31-mile drive through an ancient redwood forest.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Hey, weren't there two dudes at your school who looked a hell of a lot alike?
    Jordan Hoffman Updated, EW.com, 2 Aug. 2025
  • Sandler’s ostensibly playing a cool dude, which on its surface isn’t a great fit, but his performance ends up kind of making sense after the big twist toward the end.
    Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 30 July 2025
Noun
  • Also back on Bravo, years after getting fired from Vanderpump for racist mischief, was perennial pot-stirrer Kristen Doute, now trying to get pregnant with her boyfriend, soft-spoken L.A. outsider Luke Broderick.
    Judy Berman, Time, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Swift has never had a boyfriend this intimately involved in a new project launch, which has her supporters wondering if wedding bells going to ring anytime soon?
    Lisa France, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Cage, who had previously romanced Brooke Shields, went on to marry five times, with one of those marriages only lasting four days.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 16 July 2025
  • Austin Nichols, who famously romanced Brooke Davis on The CW’s One Tree Hill, is joining the cast of the Netflix drama in its upcoming seventh season, TVLine has confirmed, though details about his character remain under wraps for now.
    Andy Swift, TVLine, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Selby has lived a big, courageous life, and that largesse is evident on every page, in the form of the rigor and curiosity of the narrative voice.
    Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2025
  • Now more than ever, Uncle Sam will be looking for courageous insiders to step forward to ensure that the promise to treat disease doesn’t become an opportunity to fleece taxpayers instead.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • There is no greater disparity in the polls than the Sooners checking in at No. 18 in the AP and being the best of the rest among the coaches who voted.
    Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
  • By many measures, Alonso was already the greatest home run hitter in Mets history.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gallant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gallant. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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