brave (brv)adj. brav·er, brav·est
1. Possessing or displaying courage; valiant.
2. Making a fine display; impressive
or showy: "a coat of brave red
lipstick on a mouth so wrinkled
that it didn't even have a clear
outline" (Anne Tyler).
3. Excellent; great: "The Romans
were like brothers/In the brave
days of old" (Thomas Macaulay).n.
1. A Native American warrior.
2. A courageous person.
3. Archaic A bully.v.
braved, brav·ing, braves
1. To undergo or face courageously.
2. To challenge; dare: "Together
they would brave Satan and all his
legions" (Emily Brontë).
3. Obsolete To make showy or
splendid.v.intr.
4. Archaic To make a courageous
show or put up a stalwart front.
—Synonyms
1. bold, intrepid, daring, dauntless, heroic.
Brave, courageous, valiant, fearless, gallant.
Refer to: confident bearing in the face ofdifficulties or dangers.
Brave is the most comprehensive: it is especially used of that confident fortitude or daring that actively faces and
endures anything threatening. Courageous implies a higher or nobler kind of bravery, especially as resulting from an
inborn quality of mind or spirit that faces or endures perils or difficulties without fear and even with enthusiasm.
Valiant implies a correspondence between an inner courageousness and externaldeeds, particularly of physical strength
or endurance. Fearless implies unflinching spirit and coolness in the face of danger. Gallant implies a chivalrous, impetuous, or dashing bravery.
—Antonyms
1. cowardly.
1. Possessing or displaying courage; valiant.
2. Making a fine display; impressive
or showy: "a coat of brave red
lipstick on a mouth so wrinkled
that it didn't even have a clear
outline" (Anne Tyler).
3. Excellent; great: "The Romans
were like brothers/In the brave
days of old" (Thomas Macaulay).n.
1. A Native American warrior.
2. A courageous person.
3. Archaic A bully.v.
braved, brav·ing, braves
1. To undergo or face courageously.
2. To challenge; dare: "Together
they would brave Satan and all his
legions" (Emily Brontë).
3. Obsolete To make showy or
splendid.v.intr.
4. Archaic To make a courageous
show or put up a stalwart front.
—Synonyms
1. bold, intrepid, daring, dauntless, heroic.
Brave, courageous, valiant, fearless, gallant.
Refer to: confident bearing in the face ofdifficulties or dangers.
Brave is the most comprehensive: it is especially used of that confident fortitude or daring that actively faces and
endures anything threatening. Courageous implies a higher or nobler kind of bravery, especially as resulting from an
inborn quality of mind or spirit that faces or endures perils or difficulties without fear and even with enthusiasm.
Valiant implies a correspondence between an inner courageousness and externaldeeds, particularly of physical strength
or endurance. Fearless implies unflinching spirit and coolness in the face of danger. Gallant implies a chivalrous, impetuous, or dashing bravery.
—Antonyms
1. cowardly.
