Gallantly
What it means
With brave, honorable effort, especially when helping or protecting others.
Reach for it when praising the manner of a courageous action without claiming it succeeded
The crew worked gallantly to bring every passenger ashore.
Words to choose between 6
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| everyday | |
| formal | |
| literary |
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playful
chivalrously
Fits when old-fashioned courtesy toward another person is intended
Careful Chivalrously carries gendered historical baggage and can sound patronizing today.
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everyday
Fits when courage in the face of danger is the central fact
Careful Bravely does not add gallantly's suggestion of honor or service to others.
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formal
Fits when measured praise for facing serious risk is needed
Careful Courageously sounds weighty for a merely courteous or sporting gesture.
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formal
Fits when moral dignity matters more than physical danger
Careful Nobly can praise a principle without the active daring carried by gallantly.
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literary
Fits when the action involved exceptional sacrifice for other people
Careful Heroically overstates admirable effort that remained within normal duty.
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literary
Fits when determined effort continued against formidable odds
Careful Valiantly focuses on struggle and fits poorly for gracious social conduct.
Opposites 3
- cowardly
- dishonorably
- selfishly
Common phrases 3
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fought gallantly
The underdogs fought gallantly and congratulated the winners afterward.
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served gallantly
She served gallantly during the evacuation and shared the citation with her crew.
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acted gallantly
The guide acted gallantly when the sudden current trapped two swimmers.
Word family 1
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Qwertygiy, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC0 Updated