Words of Positivity
Browse the A to Z index4,633 ENTRIES

Valiantly

adv.resilient, energeticformal

What it means

With determined courage despite danger, opposition, or likely loss.

Reach for it when describing brave effort when the difficulty remained real

The outnumbered crew worked valiantly to keep the clinic open.

Choose between these

6
  • everyday

    boldly

    when confidence and readiness to take a risk are visible

    not when Bold action may be reckless or easy; valiantly requires a serious challenge.

  • everyday

    bravely

    when facing fear or danger is the exact achievement

    not when Bravely is plainer and does not carry the noble, sustained tone of valiantly.

  • warm

    heroically

    when extraordinary self-sacrifice is genuinely supported

    not when Heroically magnifies the act and can burden people who were simply doing necessary work.

  • professional

    courageously

    when principled action despite risk should be stated directly

    not when Courageously can sound evaluative in a factual report where the more literary valiantly is also too strong.

  • formal

    resolutely

    when firmness of purpose matters more than exposure to danger

    not when Resolutely can describe a safe administrative decision with no bravery involved.

  • literary

    gallantly

    when brave effort deserves an old-fashioned, noble tone

    not when Gallantly can evoke courtly behavior and sounds affected in routine workplace praise.

Said against

3
  • cowardly
  • timidly
  • faintheartedly

It naturally appears in

3
  • fought valiantly

    The volunteers fought valiantly to save the historic orchard from the fire.

  • worked valiantly

    Engineers worked valiantly through the night to restore clean water.

  • valiantly defended

    The small legal team valiantly defended the tenants' right to return.

The word family

1

Where this comes from

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