Showing strength to act in the presence of fear, danger, or serious pressure.
Reach for it when giving dignified praise for courage in a person, stand, or decision
The courageous witness returned to court after weeks of intimidation.
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| professional |
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| formal | |
| literary |
playful
Fits when informal admiration for nerve suits the relationship
Careful It can trivialize grief, illness, or principled resistance.
everyday
Fits when initiative and willingness to risk criticism are prominent
Careful A bold proposal may be ambitious without confronting fear or danger.
everyday
Fits when direct, warm praise fits a personal context
Careful Brave is less formal and can suit small acts that courageous makes sound weighty.
everyday
Fits when someone truly appears untouched by fear
Careful Most courage works through fear, so fearless may misstate the person's experience.
formal
Fits when extraordinary courage includes serious sacrifice for others
Careful Heroic is an inflated label for ordinary but meaningful courage.
formal
Fits when unwavering determination matters more than fear
Careful Resolute people can persist without facing a courageous test.
literary
Fits when repeated encounters with danger do not deter action
Careful Use a plainer word for moral honesty in a routine professional setting.
literary
Fits when sustained struggle and noble effort deserve honor
Careful Valiant can romanticize pain or failure that needs plain acknowledgment.
courageous decision
Resigning rather than falsifying the figures was a courageous decision.
courageous stand
Her courageous stand protected the interns who could not safely object.
courageous enough
He was courageous enough to seek help before the situation became dangerous.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated
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