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

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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
McDonald's, a stalwart American fast food chain, posted a steep sales drop at U.S. restaurants in its first quarter earnings report Thursday, citing economic uncertainty and diminished consumer sentiment. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 1 May 2025 Robert Hill: Robert Hill Custom Tailors, Birmingham In Birmingham, Robert Hill has been a stalwart figure in Black tailoring for over four decades. Shelton Boyd-Griffith, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
For 27 years, the airline had been part of the Star Alliance, an umbrella collection of 25 global carriers including stalwarts of the sky like United, Singapore Airlines and Ethiopian. Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 6 May 2025 Pitbull, a suave Latino hitmaker, then Weezer, a nerdy alt-rock stalwart. Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for stalwart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalwart
Adjective
  • When senior Celina Frenz wasn’t dancing through defenders to create pressure, Kocher’s ability to find Meisner darting in from the left wing was the codebreaker against a valiant effort from Timnath.
    Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 20 May 2025
  • Panthers in an 0-2 hole in the series Despite a valiant effort once again in the third — putting up 37 shot attempts and 15 scoring chances (including 10 high-danger chances) — the Panthers fell 4-3 to the Maple Leafs and are now 0-2 in the best-of-7 series.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 8 May 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
Adjective
  • It’s got all the gaming-friendly extras; HDR support, DP 1.4, HDMI, and a metal stand that actually feels sturdy for once.
    Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 26 May 2025
  • Subscribers can save up to 76 percent on tons of coveted finds for the holiday weekend, including summer fashion, sturdy luggage, and outdoor furniture.
    Clara McMahon, People.com, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • More than a dozen activists were arrested Wednesday evening during a protest at U.S. Immigration Court in Manhattan, police sources said.
    Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 29 May 2025
  • Still, many families and activists are speaking out against the CIF for allowing the situation to continue at all, and the Trump administration has given no indication the rule changes will satisfy its demands on the issue.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2025
Adjective
  • In her courageous testimony, Ventura described the myriad means by which Combs achieved and maintained power and control over her during their decade-long relationship.
    Elizabeth Geddes, Rolling Stone, 23 May 2025
  • While there are many other ways to foster courageous leadership, these three are evergreen.
    Quang X. Pham, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Adjective
  • Meantime my 12- and 13-year-old boys were now becoming young men, taller and heavier and in some cases impressively muscular.
    J.T. Barbarese, New York Daily News, 27 May 2025
  • These edits were designed to express dire wolf characteristics, including larger size, more muscular build, thicker coat, and distinctive coat coloration.
    Nia Bowers, USA Today, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • The site, frequented by far-right supporters of the president, has been used to spread conspiracy theories.
    Neil Vigdor, New York Times, 28 May 2025
  • Jenkins has been an outspoken supporter of Trump for many years.
    Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 27 May 2025
Adjective
  • Tielemans has mastered the balance, being brave in wanting the ball whatever the situation or stadium while never willingly giving ground to an opponent.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 30 May 2025
  • Naturally, the truth does eventually come out at the reception, but Samantha still puts on a brave face for her friends.
    Megan McCluskey, Time, 30 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stalwart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalwart. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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