Lionhearted
adj.resilient, capableliterary
What it means
Exceptionally courageous and resolute in the face of danger or pressure.
Reach for it when offering vivid elevated praise for demonstrated bravery
The lionhearted witness returned to court despite renewed threats.
Choose between these
7- playful
informal admiration for nerve suits the audience
not when Gutsy can trivialize grave sacrifice.
- everyday
confident willingness to take a risk matters
not when Bold action can be reckless and does not prove moral courage.
- everyday
plain direct praise for facing fear is best
not when Bravery can be momentary; lionhearted also credits sustained resolve.
- professional
the person acts despite known risk
not when Courageous is formal but less vivid than lionhearted.
- formal
visible absence of hesitation is the intended impression
not when Fearless may deny real fear and encourage needless risk.
- formal
repeated willingness to enter danger is established
not when Intrepid is too grand for everyday moral courage.
- literary
heroic effort against serious odds suits elevated prose
not when Valiant can sound martial or archaic in ordinary situations.
Said against
3- cowardly
- timid
- fainthearted
It naturally appears in
3- lionhearted defender
A lionhearted defender kept the evacuation route open.
- lionhearted stand
Her lionhearted stand protected colleagues with less power.
- truly lionhearted
The decision to testify was truly lionhearted.
Where this comes from
- merriam-webster, adjective, single sense opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.