1
as in courage
strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger
the one person who had the intestinal fortitude to stand up and denounce the injustice of it all
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fortitude
the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship
you'll need considerable intestinal fortitude to take a job at that company, but the work experience will be worth it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 intestinal fortitude
For their latest test of intestinal fortitude, the Nuggets were forced to endure a late comeback from the most clutch team in the NBA.
—
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026
Wallin’s intestinal fortitude Wednesday, meanwhile, came as no surprise to Yorkville Christian coach John McAdams.
—Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Launching an untested project requires not just intestinal fortitude but investment, and the cost of capital is coming down, said Judy Tu, SVP and senior relationship manager in City National Bank’s entertainment division, citing the Federal Reserve’s recent interest-rate reduction.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 27 Sep. 2024
Having the intestinal fortitude to fight on no matter the circumstances is what builds champions.
—Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2023
To a certain — albeit unquantifiable — extent, the perception that the Fed will have the intestinal fortitude to inflict pain on the economy in pursuit of its mandate is as important as the reality.
—Martha C. White, CNN, 26 Aug. 2022
Faced with the prospect of going home and missing the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play in the Little League Intermediate World Series, the team showed tremendous resolve and intestinal fortitude.
—Emmett Hall, Sun Sentinel, 28 July 2022
Watching Ric Flair do business in the squared circle is worth the price of admission, subscription, one-time pay-per-view fee, or any other means of watching athletic displays of intestinal fortitude.
—Matt Caputo, SPIN, 1 Apr. 2022
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026
Wallin’s intestinal fortitude Wednesday, meanwhile, came as no surprise to Yorkville Christian coach John McAdams.
—Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Launching an untested project requires not just intestinal fortitude but investment, and the cost of capital is coming down, said Judy Tu, SVP and senior relationship manager in City National Bank’s entertainment division, citing the Federal Reserve’s recent interest-rate reduction.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 27 Sep. 2024
Having the intestinal fortitude to fight on no matter the circumstances is what builds champions.
—Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2023
To a certain — albeit unquantifiable — extent, the perception that the Fed will have the intestinal fortitude to inflict pain on the economy in pursuit of its mandate is as important as the reality.
—Martha C. White, CNN, 26 Aug. 2022
Faced with the prospect of going home and missing the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play in the Little League Intermediate World Series, the team showed tremendous resolve and intestinal fortitude.
—Emmett Hall, Sun Sentinel, 28 July 2022
Watching Ric Flair do business in the squared circle is worth the price of admission, subscription, one-time pay-per-view fee, or any other means of watching athletic displays of intestinal fortitude.
—Matt Caputo, SPIN, 1 Apr. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intestinal fortitude
Noun
-
California — and America — now desperately need the courage for another moral intervention.—
Tom Debley,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
-
Hamer signed up and, through her courage, charisma, and oratory, quickly drew ardent disciples and ruthless adversaries.—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
The Spurs responded with their best game of the series, a 115-111 win that required lots of mental fortitude and, in the end, sent Knicks fans home quiet.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
11 June 2026
-
Tate projected a credo of masculine excellence that revolved around self-discipline, physical prowess, and mental fortitude.—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Because the engine to pay for heroism has become heroic in its own right — endlessly inventive, strategically brilliant, and almost entirely disconnected from the patient whose name appears at the top of the page.—
Darshak Sanghavi,
STAT,
3 June 2026
-
For Dudamel, orchestral exuberance equals heroism.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
What happens after students lose mental stamina?—
Rachel Konrad,
Time,
9 Dec. 2025
-
That’s just a matter of stamina and extremes in the circumstances of the scene.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
9 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
City leaders commended the bravery of the emergency personnel who performed the search during large surf, powerful currents and limited underwater visibility.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
-
That same bravery is evident when dealing with crowded penalty-box situations.—
Matt Pyzdrowski,
New York Times,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Reinforcing materials are then deposited, including thermoplastic carbon-fiber acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) for lightweight strength or thermoset resins like epoxy for greater stiffness and durability.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
16 June 2026
-
Key Takeaways Quinoa may help lower blood pressure by providing nutrients like magnesium, potassium, and beta-glucan fiber.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
During the reception, Princess Kate shared an emotional moment with Tony Gledhill, a former Metropolitan Police officer who received the George Cross for gallantry in 1966.—
Helen Murphy,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
-
There’s a quixotic gallantry to appealing to a saner conservative and looking ahead to a post-Trump American politics.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Rinsing them thoroughly helps keep these unfortunate extras off your plate, and also improves the flavor and texture of the peaches by removing any unwanted grit.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
14 June 2026
-
The Knicks’ grit in the Finals was not a fluke.—
Tom Tapp,
Deadline,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Intestinal fortitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intestinal%20fortitude. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
