View synonyms for heroic

heroic

[ hi-roh-ik ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

Also heroical. of, relating to, or characteristic of a hero or heroine.
Synonyms: courageous, brave, gallant, valorous, valiant, dauntless
Antonyms: cowardly
suitable to the character of a hero in size or concept; daring; noble:
a heroic ambition.
Synonyms: courageous, brave, gallant, valorous, valiant, dauntless
Antonyms: cowardly
having or displaying the character or attributes of a hero; extraordinarily bold, altruistic, determined, etc.:
a heroic explorer.
having or involving recourse to boldness, daring, or extreme measures:
Heroic measures were taken to save his life.
dealing with or describing the deeds, attributes, etc., of heroes, as in literature.
of, relating to, or characteristic of the heroes of antiquity:
heroic mythology.
used in heroic poetry. Compare heroic verse.
Synonyms: epic
resembling heroic poetry in language or style; grandiloquent.
(of style or language) lofty; extravagant; grand.
larger than life-size:
a statue of heroic proportions.

noun

Usually heroics. heroic verse.
heroics,
1. flamboyant or extravagant language, sentiment, or behavior, intended to seem heroic.
2. heroic action or behavior.

heroic

/ hɪˈrəʊɪk /

adjective

of, like, or befitting a hero
courageous but desperate
relating to or treating of heroes and their deeds
of, relating to, or resembling the heroes of classical mythology
(of language, manner, etc) extravagant
prosody of, relating to, or resembling heroic verse
(of the arts, esp sculpture) larger than life-size; smaller than colossal
RC Church
1. held to such a degree as to enable a person to perform virtuous actions with exceptional promptness, ease and pleasure, and with self-abnegation and self-control
  heroic virtue
2. performed or undergone by such a person
  the heroic witness of martyrdom

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Derived Forms

heˈroically, adverb
heˈroicalness, noun

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Other Words From

he·ro·i·cal·ly adverb
he·ro·i·cal·ness he·ro·ic·ness he·ro·ic·i·ty [heer-oh-, is, -i-tee], noun
non·he·ro·ic adjective
non·he·ro·i·cal adjective
non·he·ro·i·cal·ly adverb
non·he·ro·i·cal·ness noun
non·he·ro·ic·ness noun
pseu·do·he·ro·ic adjective
pseu·do·he·ro·i·cal adjective
pseu·do·he·ro·i·cal·ly adverb
qua·si-he·ro·ic adjective
qua·si-he·ro·i·cal·ly adverb
su·per·he·ro·ic adjective
su·per·he·ro·i·cal·ly adverb
un·he·ro·ic adjective
un·he·ro·ic·ness noun
un·he·ro·i·cal adjective
un·he·ro·i·cal·ly adverb
un·he·ro·i·cal·ness noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of heroic¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin hērōicus, from Greek hērōïkós “of, pertaining to a hero”; hero + -ic; compare late Middle English heroical, heroicus

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Example Sentences

Matt said he was grateful for the “heroic efforts” of the Sheriff’s Department, without which there would have been no hope of justice for Jax.

From Los Angeles Times

There was no immediate claim from any armed groups, but Hamas described the attack as "heroic" and a "natural response" to what it called Israeli crimes against Palestinians.

From BBC

Wambaugh’s characters were morally flexible, heroic, repugnant, compassionate, callous, deeply flawed, darkly comical — in a word, real.

From Los Angeles Times

Especially during his heroic run of work in the 1970s, Hackman was an astonishingly versatile actor, whether in the perverse satire of “Prime Cut,” the downtrodden naturalism of “Scarecrow” or countless other roles.

From Los Angeles Times

All offseason, Freeman has experienced such attention; his already substantial popularity skyrocketing in the wake of his playoff heroics last October.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

Herodotus heroic age

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