stalwart 1 of 2

1
as in valiant
feeling or displaying no fear by temperament the stalwart soldiers in the army of Alexander the Great, who willingly followed him to the ends of the known world

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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stalwart

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word stalwart different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of stalwart are stout, strong, sturdy, tenacious, and tough. While all these words mean "showing power to resist or to endure," stalwart suggests an unshakable dependability.

stalwart environmentalists

When is it sensible to use stout instead of stalwart?

The meanings of stout and stalwart largely overlap; however, stout suggests an ability to endure stress, pain, or hard use without giving way.

stout hiking boots

Where would strong be a reasonable alternative to stalwart?

The synonyms strong and stalwart are sometimes interchangeable, but strong may imply power derived from muscular vigor, large size, structural soundness, intellectual or spiritual resources.

strong arms
the defense has a strong case

In what contexts can sturdy take the place of stalwart?

While the synonyms sturdy and stalwart are close in meaning, sturdy implies strength derived from vigorous growth, determination of spirit, solidity of construction.

a sturdy table
people of sturdy independence

When can tenacious be used instead of stalwart?

The words tenacious and stalwart can be used in similar contexts, but tenacious suggests strength in seizing, retaining, clinging to, or holding together.

tenacious farmers clinging to an age-old way of life

When is tough a more appropriate choice than stalwart?

In some situations, the words tough and stalwart are roughly equivalent. However, tough implies great firmness and resiliency.

a tough political opponent

Example 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 stalwart
Adjective
These stalwart trees stand among historic structures—such as Christ Church, Frederica—reflecting the area’s heritage. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 6 Jan. 2025 In high school, Cashman had been a stalwart defensive back for an Eden Prairie team that won 36 games in a row. Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
Noun
As other alcoholic beverage categories experience fads, vodka is undoubtedly the resilient decades-old stalwart that seems to be just getting started. Patrick Shorb, Rolling Stone, 26 Dec. 2024 Most people pass these ubiquitous stalwarts without knowing what they are called or what they are used for. James Barron, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for stalwart 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalwart
Adjective
  • Elena Rybakina made a valiant go of it with a bad back but fell in three sets to Madison Keys. Eva Lys, a lucky loser, ran into the Iga Swiatek buzzsaw and was finished in 59 minutes.
    Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025
  • There are no heroes here, no valiant effort to stand up for what is right by waving a flag.
    Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.
    National Geographic, National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023
  • According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.
    Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023
Adjective
  • Loftin Hall itself, the former student dining hall where the museum is housed, is noteworthy on its own, with beautiful Mexican tiles and sturdy wooden beams.
    Pam LeBlanc, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2025
  • The insulation will keep you warm in below-zero temperatures, while the sturdy rubber soles will prevent you from slipping and sliding on icy terrain.
    Genevieve Cepeda, Travel + Leisure, 26 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • But what Zhang, an artist and feminist activist, does with her story transforms it into a work of calmly bold modernism.
    Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2025
  • An activist protests against President Donald Trump’s plan to stop most federal grants and loans during a rally near the White House on Jan. 28, 2025 in Washington, DC.
    Dan Mangan, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Allowing those convicted of these crimes to be released early diminishes accountability and devalues the sacrifices made by courageous law enforcement officers and their families.
    Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
  • For example, a person might intend to be courageous (cognition), but fear (affect) and a fight-or-flight response (physiology) can hinder action (behavior).
    Mary Crossan, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • However, being taller and more muscular comes with greater evolutionary costs, as a male must eat a lot and also be physically healthy both during childhood and as an adult to achieve and maintain such traits.
    Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
  • According to Transfermarkt, Vitor Reis has been sidelined once in his senior career due to injury — a muscular problem that kept him out of action for three matches.
    Elias Burke, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Andrew Taake, 36, was serving a 6-year sentence in a Colorado prison when President Donald Trump pardoned him and 1,500 other MAGA supporters for seizing the Capitol in protest of his 2020 election defeat.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 28 Jan. 2025
  • Yoon was impeached and suspended from presidential duties over his actions and has been in detention since his Jan. 15 arrest following an hours-long standoff between law enforcement and the president's guard and supporters.
    Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Editor’s picks Most artists were given just three or four songs, but longtime Light of Day champion Jesse Malin was allowed to play 13 as part of his brave return to the stage.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Jan. 2025
  • Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, whatever these things are, you're supposed to put up a brave front, but there is that cruelty.
    Nick Romano, EW.com, 17 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stalwart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalwart. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

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