gallant 1 of 3

1
as in valiant
feeling or displaying no fear by temperament a gallant firefighter, rushing into the burning house to save the children a gallant rescue

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3

gallant

2 of 3

noun

1
as in dude
a man extremely interested in his clothing and personal appearance he was quite a gallant, primping more than either of his sisters

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

gallant

3 of 3

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective gallant contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of gallant are chivalrous, civil, courteous, and polite. While all these words mean "observant of the forms required by good breeding," gallant and chivalrous imply courteous attentiveness especially to women. gallant suggests spirited and dashing behavior and ornate expressions of courtesy.

a gallant suitor of the old school

Where would chivalrous be a reasonable alternative to gallant?

The words chivalrous and gallant can be used in similar contexts, but chivalrous suggests high-minded and self-sacrificing behavior.

a chivalrous display of duty

When could civil be used to replace gallant?

While the synonyms civil and gallant are close in meaning, civil often suggests little more than the avoidance of overt rudeness.

owed the questioner a civil reply

When can courteous be used instead of gallant?

Although the words courteous and gallant have much in common, courteous implies more actively considerate or dignified politeness.

clerks who were unfailingly courteous to customers

When might polite be a better fit than gallant?

The words polite and gallant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, polite commonly implies polish of speech and manners and sometimes suggests an absence of cordiality.

if you can't be pleasant, at least be polite

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gallant
Adjective
Posey became recognizable throughout Philadelphia for his fine clothes and gallant demeanor. Ramin Ganeshram, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2024 This council made a gallant effort to socialize this City Charter mandate. Detroit Free Press, 7 Feb. 2024
Noun
And then Emily spies the ring that’s slipped out of Luke’s pocket, spurring him to drop clumsily to one knee, red of lip but gallant of spirit, and offer up a sweet if singularly indecent proposal. Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2023 Their resistance captured imaginations in the West; British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and other European leaders hailed gallant Finland. Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 6 Apr. 2022 See all Example Sentences for gallant 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gallant
Adjective
  • Knockouts The drama continued in the knockouts, where both debutantes put up valiant displays.
    Neel Shelat, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024
  • Pablo Carrillo is neither the valiant hero of Josie’s memories who saved the baby from the runaway horse nor a diabolical mustache-twirling, child-trafficking villain Cruz could easily paint him out to be.
    Andy Andersen, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Through the interview and its absurd aftermath, Khalifah satirizes the idea of telling your story as a noble or even politically effective pursuit.
    Bekah Waalkes, The Atlantic, 5 Dec. 2024
  • That's when noble Sir John makes Claire a proposal — marry him and gain the protection of his good name with the Crown.
    EW.com, EW.com, 4 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • One of Estoril’s top hotels is the magnificent Palacio Estoril, a 5-star hotel renowned for its exceptional Spa and Wellness offerings.
    Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
  • The magnificent decor, courtesy of Bronson Van Wyck, continued to draw on the work with a rose arch, decadent centerpieces, and towering candles.
    Ian Malone, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • In high school, Magaro got tight with a dude who turned him on to more challenging stuff, lots of Stanley Kubrick.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Back in the present day, Kraven has a list of evil dudes to kill, Chorney having been one of them.
    David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Rylee Arnold's boyfriend just got the ultimate stamp of approval.
    Julia Moore, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024
  • Trending on Billboard The discussion of the song came just days after reports emerged that Carpenter and boyfriend actor Barry Keoghan have split after about a year of dating.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Werther chronicles his attempts at romancing Charlotte via phone calls to his friend, only to learn that Charlotte is engaged to an emotionally unavailable man named Albert (Adams, 43).
    Tommy McArdle, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
  • Angelina Jolie is not romancing the British rapper Akala, a source tells PEOPLE.
    Tommy McArdle, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Sometimes, being a truly courageous knight means stepping back, creating space for growth and allowing something beautiful and new to flourish—for both you and your partner.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
  • And finally, that the best way to be a beacon for the disability community, while honoring my personal experience, is to be myself: flawed, courageous, and terrified at the same time, constantly learning, happy to ask for help, loud in the face of injustice, and proudly disabled.
    Cara Elizabeth Yar Khan, TIME, 3 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Poor air quality from wildfires, vehicle exhaust, factories, and other sources takes a toll on lung health—but mounting research suggests that breathing unhealthy air can also put people at a greater risk of developing autoimmune diseases.
    Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 10 Dec. 2024
  • The two front runners have a great shot at taking home the trophy in Hunter and Jeanty.
    Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near gallant

Cite this Entry

“Gallant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gallant. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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