stalwart 1 of 2

1
as in valiant
feeling or displaying no fear by temperament the stalwart soldiers in the army of Alexander the Great, who willingly followed him to the ends of the known world

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
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stalwart

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word stalwart different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of stalwart are stout, strong, sturdy, tenacious, and tough. While all these words mean "showing power to resist or to endure," stalwart suggests an unshakable dependability.

stalwart environmentalists

When is it sensible to use stout instead of stalwart?

The meanings of stout and stalwart largely overlap; however, stout suggests an ability to endure stress, pain, or hard use without giving way.

stout hiking boots

Where would strong be a reasonable alternative to stalwart?

The synonyms strong and stalwart are sometimes interchangeable, but strong may imply power derived from muscular vigor, large size, structural soundness, intellectual or spiritual resources.

strong arms
the defense has a strong case

In what contexts can sturdy take the place of stalwart?

While the synonyms sturdy and stalwart are close in meaning, sturdy implies strength derived from vigorous growth, determination of spirit, solidity of construction.

a sturdy table
people of sturdy independence

When can tenacious be used instead of stalwart?

The words tenacious and stalwart can be used in similar contexts, but tenacious suggests strength in seizing, retaining, clinging to, or holding together.

tenacious farmers clinging to an age-old way of life

When is tough a more appropriate choice than stalwart?

In some situations, the words tough and stalwart are roughly equivalent. However, tough implies great firmness and resiliency.

a tough political opponent

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 stalwart
Adjective
As a member of NATO, which was set up after World War II to counter the threat posed by the Soviet Union, Poland has been one of the most dependable U.S. allies as well as a stalwart supporter of Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022. Corky Siemaszko, NBC News, 7 Mar. 2025 Three years after Russian troops first rolled into the country and started mass destruction, members of the Ukrainian fashion and design community are stalwart as ever about carrying on with their businesses to convey strength and resistance. Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 24 Feb. 2025
Noun
McMann hasn’t made a significant special-teams impact, but his three power-play goals are tops among PP2 stalwarts. Nick Ashbourne, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025 The ska-soul stalwarts sure know how to throw a swinging party. Dan Reilly, Vulture, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stalwart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalwart
Adjective
  • And though tourists have discovered the area’s charms, the Conservancy’s horticulturalists have been doing valiant battle with other invasive species.
    Justin Davidson, Curbed, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Nathan Fielder’s series The Rehearsal — his coping mechanism/social experiment/valiant attempt to bankrupt David Zaslav — premiered its second, six-episode season on April 20.
    Anne Victoria Clark, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.
    National Geographic, National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023
  • According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.
    Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023
Adjective
  • For your safety, move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2025
  • And one particular branch has become strapping and sturdy: Dave Roberts.
    Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
Noun
  • That year, the American political apparatus stepped to the pulpit to denigrate the activists: Tom Cotton, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden, Eric Adams.
    Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 17 May 2025
  • Related Articles DeSantis signs a bill making Florida the 2nd state to ban fluoride from its water system Recently, though, fluoridation has become a topic of debate throughout the country and in Florida, with dental and pediatric associations facing off against politicians and activists.
    Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • The event series is based on The Old Testament’s Book of Genesis and told through the eyes of the courageous and passionate, yet flawed women whose descendants would shape three of the world’s great faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 9 May 2025
  • The segment famously saw Piper remove Gowen's prosthetic leg, instantly establishing his courageous character.
    Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • Indeed, an ascendant wing of the Republican Party has actively pushed for a more muscular government—in the areas of family and industrial policy, for example—after reaching the conclusion that Reagan-style market orthodoxy has hollowed out communities, among other bad outcomes.
    Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 2 May 2025
  • Dominic Solanke is a doubt for Sunday’s trip to West Ham United after also being forced off with a muscular problem during the Europa League tie.
    Elias Burke, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • That is undeniable, and so too is the fact that Dan Ndoye and his Bologna team-mates will forever be heroes to Bologna supporters.
    Adam Digby, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
  • As of Wednesday, nearly 11,500 people, including current students, alumni, faculty and HBCU supporters nationwide, signed a petition opposing Johnson’s appointment, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.
    Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Be brave and have an honest conversation with your spouse.
    Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 2 May 2025
  • To all candidates, campaign volunteers and election workers who participated in this election: thank you for your contribution to our democratic process, one that so many brave Canadians have sacrificed so much to defend.
    Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 1 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stalwart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalwart. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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