Heroic

adj.resilient, capablewarm

What it means

Showing exceptional courage or selflessness under serious pressure.

Reach for it when praising conduct that accepts real risk or sacrifice for others

The crew's heroic rescue brought all six passengers safely ashore.

everyday
brave
someone faces fear or danger with courage
not when Brave suits ordinary courage; heroic signals exceptional stakes or sacrifice.
warm
selfless
putting others first is more important than fearlessness
not when A selfless act may be gentle and safe rather than heroic.
professional
bold
decisive risk-taking is praiseworthy
not when Bold action can serve ambition and does not by itself show moral courage.
formal
courageous
moral or physical courage deserves measured praise
not when It does not necessarily imply service to others or a remarkable outcome.
formal
extraordinary
you want to praise the exceptional scale without specifying courage
not when Extraordinary is too broad when sacrifice is the fact that matters.
literary
dauntless
the person appears undeterred by formidable danger
not when It can exaggerate someone who acted despite visible and reasonable fear.
literary
gallant
courage is noble, spirited, or chivalrous
not when Its old-fashioned overtones can distract from contemporary service.
literary
valiant
determined courage in a struggle is the central image
not when Valiant can sound theatrical in a modern resume or plain thank-you.

heroic effort
The nurses made a heroic effort to keep the rural clinic open through the storm.
heroic act
His heroic act gave the children time to leave the burning bus.
heroic courage
The witness showed heroic courage by returning to guide rescuers through the smoke.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.