courageous

adjective

cou·​ra·​geous kə-ˈrā-jəs How to pronounce courageous (audio)
: having or characterized by courage : brave
a courageous soldier
a courageous decision
courageously adverb
courageousness noun

Examples of courageous in a Sentence

She was a courageous woman who wasn't afraid to support unpopular causes. the courageous decision to quit rather than obey an illegal order
Recent Examples on the Web Judith West narrates this superb biography in a methodical manner that takes getting used to, but eventually her voice’s clarity and steady pace strike the listener as appropriate to relaying the myriad details of this courageous, politically momentous life. Katherine A. Powers, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 Buy Now 05 of 18 'Kushiel’s Dart' by Jacqueline Carey An absolute classic of dark romantic fantasy, anchored by an incredible heroine who is part spy, part courtesan and all courageous heart. Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 Natalia’s courageous odyssey is set against the turbulent years of 2019 to 2023 when Russia’s clampdown on opposition figures and journalists intensifies, post-pandemic, and war in Ukraine breaks out. Annika Pham, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024 But some voters may no longer look up to the veteran congressman as a courageous idealist. George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Strong-willed, courageous and carefree: these are just some of the traits often associated with the Aries sign. Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2024 We are also blessed with a couple of courageous young journalists who have been fighting the trans madness for years now. Rich Lowry, National Review, 5 Mar. 2024 There was no nomination for the courageous and talented director, Greta Gerwig, who along with Robbie brought the vision to life. Teresa Hopke, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 In doing so, Mr. Navalny set himself apart from Cold War-era dissidents like the physicist Andrei Sakharov or the politician Natan Sharansky, who faced persecution and in Mr. Sharansky’s case, imprisonment, becoming symbols of courageous resistance in the West. Mark Landler, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'courageous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English corageous, borrowed from Anglo-French corajus, from corage courage + -us, -ous -ous

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of courageous was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near courageous

Cite this Entry

“Courageous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/courageous. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

courageous

adjective
cou·​ra·​geous kə-ˈrā-jəs How to pronounce courageous (audio)
: having or marked by courage : brave
courageously adverb
courageousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on courageous

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