brave

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

adj. courageous, valiant. — v. t. face, defy. See courage, defiance. —n. buck, redskin (derog.).

II

(Roget's IV) modif.

1. [Courageous]

Syn. fearless, courageous, daring, valiant, intrepid, bold, dauntless, undaunted, undismayed, confident, unafraid, plucky, unabashed, chivalrous, valorous, heroic, adventurous, dashing, venturesome, mettlesome, forward, audacious, reckless, foolhardy, gallant, resolute, militant, defiant, hardy, doughty, stout, stout-hearted, lion-hearted, greathearted, manful, manly, firm, high-spirited, unshrinking, unblenching, dreadless, unfearful, spirited, game, strong, stalwart, unflinching, unyielding, indomitable, unconquerable, soldierly, unappalled, spunky*, gritty*, full of guts*, nervy*, gutsy*, macho*, with heart of oak*.

Ant. cowardly*, timid, craven, fearful.

2. [Making a good showing]

Syn. brilliant, colorful, high-colored, splendid; see beautiful 1 , bright 1 , 2 .

v.

Syn. confront, risk, court; see dare 1 , 2 , face 1 .

Syn.- brave implies fearlessness in meeting danger or difficulty and has the broadest application of the words considered here; courageous suggests readiness to deal with things fearlessly by reason of a stout-hearted temperament or a resolute spirit; bold stresses a daring temperament, whether displayed courageously, presumptuously, or defiantly; audacious suggests an imprudent or reckless boldness; valiant emphasizes a heroic quality in the courage or fortitude shown; intrepid implies absolute fearlessness and esp. suggests dauntlessness in facing the New or unknown; plucky emphasizes gameness in fighting against something when one is at a decided disadvantage

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus)

I

v.

face, defy, dare, confront, challenge, *stand up to.

II

a.

courageous, bold, fearless, valiant, lionhearted, dauntless, heroic, plucky, *gutsy, *ballsy, intrepid, daring, spunky, manly, foolhardy, macho.

ANT.: timid, mousy, cowardly, fainthearted, *chicken

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) I adjective Having or showing courage: audacious, bold, courageous, dauntless, doughty, fearless, fortitudinous, gallant, game, hardy, heroic, intrepid, mettlesome, plucky, stout, stouthearted, unafraid, undaunted, valiant, valorous. Informal: spunky. Slang: gutsy, gutty. See FEAR. II noun Archaic. One who is habitually cruel to smaller or weaker people: brow-beater, bulldozer, bully, hector, intimidator. See OVER. III verb To confront boldly and courageously: beard, challenge, dare, defy, face, front. Idioms: fly in the face of, snap one's fingers at, stand up to, thumb one's nose at. See RESIST.