Gallant
What it means
Brave and honorable, often with special courtesy toward others.
Reach for it when praising courageous conduct while avoiding dated gender expectations
The gallant firefighter returned to guide one more resident outside.
Words to choose between 7
| playful | |
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| everyday | |
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
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playful
Fits when bold attractive style is part of the admiration
Careful Dashing focuses on appearance and flair, not proven courage.
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everyday
Fits when facing danger or fear is the supported fact
Careful Brave does not add gallant's honorable or courteous manner.
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warm
Fits when moral character and selfless motive matter most
Careful Noble can overstate one decent action and has class associations.
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professional
Fits when exceptional action protected others at major personal risk
Careful Routine duty, however admirable, does not reach the heroic threshold.
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formal
Fits when traditional protective courtesy is specifically intended
Careful Chivalrous carries gendered history and can feel patronizing.
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formal
Fits when serious moral or physical risk deserves measured praise
Careful Courageous is more current and less romantic than gallant.
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literary
Fits when determined effort against difficult odds is central
Careful Valiant fits struggle and can sound inflated for social courtesy.
Opposites 3
- cowardly
- dishonorable
- discourteous
Common phrases 3
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gallant effort
The gallant effort fell short, but it gave the second crew crucial time.
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gallant rescue
A gallant rescue brought the stranded sailor ashore.
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gallant conduct
Her gallant conduct combined courage with careful judgment.
Word family 1
Usage notes
Keep in mind
Gallant can sound archaic and gendered, especially when it means courtly attention to women.
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