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
To be sure, this isn't the first time an AI stalwart has faced significant pressure. Fred Imbert, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025 That is especially true considering the stalwart pass rush that Los Angeles has. James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Noun
Even the once-stalwart security of a computer science degree is reportedly under assault, with AI replacing entry-level coders. Emil Steiner, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025 Ace has been the helpful place in South Milwaukee for decades, but the stalwart hardware store is closing its doors. Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 9 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stalwart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalwart
Adjective
  • Prior to Mbappe’s third, Kairat thought they had been awarded a penalty but VAR deemed Valeri Gromyko had slipped rather than been fouled by Dani Ceballos and a valiant effort by the home team ended without a goal.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Kurtz made a valiant effort for the A’s in Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Royals, going 1-for-3 with a single plus a walk and scoring from second off a Shea Langeliers double in the eighth inning.
    Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • In fact, while vision isn’t their strongest sense, dogs may even be able to see certain aspects of a TV show.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Oct. 2025
  • The young right-hander put together a strong season, but few were better after the All-Star break.
    Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The lone crack in Yesavage’s sturdy exterior came in the first inning.
    Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Verbatim bell hooks Writer and academic, teacher and activist.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The topic of free speech, particularly on college campuses, made recent headlines after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed during an event at Utah State University.
    Hannah Pinski, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • This month encourages courageous choices and trusting your own judgment to create freedom.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The godmother of the event’s 2025 edition, supermodel Naomi Campbell, was not in attendance but shared a video message encouraging the awards’ nominees to be fearless and courageous.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • But what a response — a performance full of waspish pressing, muscular defending and precise, efficient counters.
    Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The demands, which are not just muscular and cardiovascular but also neurochemical, make the early months of training a totalizing experience.
    Dan Brooks, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Back in the 1920s, even the Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin called on his British supporters to affiliate with the Labour Party instead of fighting it.
    Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 4 Oct. 2025
  • No victims speak in court While the court heard several pleas from Combs’ supporters Friday, the victims who testified at trial were noticeably absent from the hearing.
    Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • This Department of Justice will continue making every effort to protect our brave federal law enforcement officers, who risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Instead, try to be bold, be brave, and be loud.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stalwart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalwart. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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