stalwart 1 of 2

Definition of stalwartnext
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

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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

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
The stalwart banyas and, later, K-spas made sure New York never lacked completely. Madeline Leung Coleman, Curbed, 25 Feb. 2026 One standout in Monday’s sell-off was the consumer staples sector, home to companies such as Walmart and Coca-Cola, as investors put their money into stalwart businesses less likely to be disrupted by AI. Jared Perlo, NBC news, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
Races for the Senate, House of Representatives and Governor were highlighted by an opportunity to replace longtime incumbent Senator Dick Durbin, a liberal stalwart who is retiring since first being elected in 1996. Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026 The race pits Mills, 78 and a Democratic stalwart who has the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, against a much younger and far less experienced opponent who has filled town halls across the state with a populist message centered on the cost of housing and health care. ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stalwart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalwart
Adjective
  • Devastated by grief and horror beneath her armor, yet so valiant in public.
    TIME, Time, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Until the lava of the bird’s stomach melts her valiant resins, dissolves her nomadic strength, and transforms her into a viscous secretion.
    María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Royal Bahamian police said Brian Hooker told investigators that his wife fell over from an 8-foot hard-bottom dinghy — along with the keys to the boat — and she was carried away by strong rip currents.
    Cristian Benavides, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
  • The National Weather Service says strong winds could generate breaking waves of 8 feet causing dune erosion and road overwash.
    Mark Price April 8, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Featuring the show’s slogan over a sunny pop of color, this sturdy ceramic mug holds a generous 15 ounces of coffee, tea, or hot cocoa, and is your Immunity Idol against a dull routine.
    Brittany Anas, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Puryear has created an outdoor sculpture to honor the late civil rights activist and congressman John Lewis via Bending the Arc, a 34-foot-long beam that Puryear hand-carved in wood and then was 3D-scanned and fabricated in stainless steel.
    Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 10 Apr. 2026
  • But Emma Lozano, a longtime immigrant rights activist appointed by Johnson, disagreed.
    ABC News, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Roberts-Smith became a household name across Australia when he was awarded the Victoria Cross in 2011, a medal reserved for only the most courageous wartime exploits.
    CBS News, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
  • First, four courageous astronauts successfully lifted off from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center aboard Artemis II, which will attempt the first lunar flyby in more than 50 years.
    S.E. Cupp, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Oregon’s muscular Kenyon Sadiq is the top tight end prospect by a wide margin.
    Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026
  • The city chose a more muscular solution, raising the park and lifting the river’s edge to form a wall intended to hold back sixteen feet of surge.
    Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Opposition politician Nadezhdin, his supporters and other activist groups have filed for permission to hold rallies in dozens of cities on April 12, when Russia marks Cosmonautics Day, honoring the 1961 flight of Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space.
    ABC News, ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Lopez then appeared to break a bit of news to his supporters.
    Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The four brave astronauts onboard—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch of NASA and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency—completed their historic lunar flyby five days later.
    Lee Billings, Scientific American, 9 Apr. 2026
  • While your brave nature prefers fast outcomes, letting ideas mature in private should put you in a position to act with more confidence in a positive outcome.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Stalwart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalwart. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.

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