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View synonyms for heroic

heroic

[ hi-roh-ik ]

adjective

  1. Also heroical. of, relating to, or characteristic of a hero or heroine.

    Synonyms: valiant, dauntless, courageous, brave, gallant, valorous

    Antonyms: cowardly

  2. suitable to the character of a hero in size or concept; daring; noble:

    a heroic ambition.

    Synonyms: brave, gallant, valorous, valiant, dauntless, courageous

    Antonyms: cowardly

  3. having or displaying the character or attributes of a hero; extraordinarily bold, altruistic, determined, etc.:

    a heroic explorer.

  4. having or involving recourse to boldness, daring, or extreme measures:

    Heroic measures were taken to save his life.

  5. dealing with or describing the deeds, attributes, etc., of heroes, as in literature.
  6. of, relating to, or characteristic of the heroes of antiquity:

    heroic mythology.

  7. used in heroic poetry. Compare heroic verse.

    Synonyms: epic

  8. resembling heroic poetry in language or style; grandiloquent.
  9. (of style or language) lofty; extravagant; grand.
  10. larger than life-size:

    a statue of heroic proportions.



noun

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

heroic

/ hɪˈrəʊɪk /

adjective

  1. of, like, or befitting a hero
  2. courageous but desperate
  3. relating to or treating of heroes and their deeds
  4. of, relating to, or resembling the heroes of classical mythology
  5. (of language, manner, etc) extravagant
  6. prosody of, relating to, or resembling heroic verse
  7. (of the arts, esp sculpture) larger than life-size; smaller than colossal
  8. 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

Sometimes they do heroic things, sometimes they wish they could.

Claret for boys, port for men, and brandy for heroes, according to Dr. Johnson, and Hitch went for the heroic.

Hamas called the attack “heroic” and, disgustingly, tweeted out photos of the bodies.

It is this kind of abstraction that leads to more mythology, more heroic narratives, more undertones of patriotic martyrdom.

Some heroic volunteers, like Spencer, have joined the fight—but not enough.

Again, she was present at the battle of Silan, where her heroic example of courage infused new life into her brother rebels.

It is not likely that the inhabitants of Ivrea, who thus commemorate her heroic deed, will ever forget their Mugnaia.

All men are not heroes, and in many countries men may become average hunters without being particularly heroic.

We shook each other by the hand, and congratulated one another mutually, as if we had done some great and heroic deed.

He was in love, and, being very young, wanted to do something insanely heroic.

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Herod the Greatheroic age