heroic
1 of 2adjective
he·ro·ic 
hi-ˈrō-ik,
also her-ˈō-,
or
hē-ˈrō- variants or less commonly heroical
hi-ˈrō-i-kəl
1
: of or relating to courageous people or the mythological or legendary figures of antiquity : of, relating to, resembling, or suggesting heroes especially of antiquity
heroic legends
the heroic age
2
a
: exhibiting or marked by courage and daring
It was a heroic decision.
b
: supremely noble or self-sacrificing
a heroic gesture
received medals for their heroic actions
3
a
: of impressive size, power, extent, or effect
a heroic voice
b(1)
: of great intensity : extreme
heroic effort
(2)
: of a kind that is likely only to be undertaken to save a life
heroic surgery
4
: of, relating to, or constituting drama written during the Restoration in heroic couplets and concerned with a conflict between love and honor
heroically
hi-ˈrō-i-k(ə-)lē
adverb heroic
2 of 2noun
1
: a verse or poem written during the Restoration using rhyming couplets in iambic pentameter and concerned with a conflict between love and honor : a heroic verse or poem
2
heroics plural
a
: flamboyantly boastful language or action
avoids heroics in his writing
b
: courageous, noble, or self-sacrificing action or behavior : heroic action or behavior
the heroics of the civil rights movement
c
: determined effort especially in the face of difficulty
Synonyms
Adjective
- bold
- brave
- courageous
- dauntless
- doughty
- fearless
- gallant
- greathearted
- gutsy
- gutty
- intrepid
- lionhearted
- manful
- stalwart
- stout
- stouthearted
- undauntable
- undaunted
- valiant
- valorous
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective It was heroic of those women to fight for the right to vote. The soldiers received medals for their heroic actions. Despite heroic efforts to save the business, it ultimately went bankrupt. a political battle of heroic proportions
Recent Examples on the Web
Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Aug. 2022 Yes, the logistical efforts to pull people out were absolutely heroic, stories to be written and told eventually in the fullness of time. CBS News, 6 Oct. 2021 Both of these are real-life examples, the first being a description of the heroic exploits of ... Sarah Schutte, National Review, 4 Sep. 2022 Coach Steve Sarkisian brought the Ohio State transfer here to do just that, to use his famed arm for heroic football deeds and heal a program that’s been sputtering for about a decade now. Nick Moyle, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Sep. 2022 The heroic performance in The Whale that will deservingly dominate the attention, however, is Fraser, who hasn’t been this good since Gods and Monsters. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Sep. 2022 This is not Game of Thrones, which has more plainly heroic characters such as Ned Stark to root for; then again, Ned Stark couldn’t make it through one season of that show before he was beheaded. David Sims, The Atlantic, 29 Aug. 2022 Local officials initially painted the law-enforcement response as heroic and orderly. Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2022 Nankil would pull off a pair of heroic passes to McClure to tie the game with eight seconds left. Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 3 June 2021 Watson, meanwhile, threw for 388 yards and two touchdowns while running for another, but not even his heroics could bail out the Texans (11-7) after they were outscored, 28-0, in the second quarter. Dave Skretta, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Jan. 2020 For all their athletic exploits to date, none compare with their off-field heroics. John Shea, SFChronicle.com, 28 Feb. 2020 Watson, meanwhile, threw for 388 yards and two touchdowns while running for another, but not even his heroics could bail out the Texans (11-7) after they were outscored 28-0 in the second quarter. oregonlive, 12 Jan. 2020 Jewell did not know it then, but the government already had its doubts about his heroics. Adam Carlson, PEOPLE.com, 1 Jan. 2020 And, on Sunday, his heroics once again buoyed the Broncos after Oakland cut its deficit to one point late in the fourth quarter with Renfrow’s short touchdown catch. Kyle Fredrickson, The Denver Post, 29 Dec. 2019 The necessary heroics on that side of the ball just don’t come with the level of frequency that championship contenders produce. Mike Jones, USA TODAY, 15 Dec. 2019 His heroics wouldn’t have been possible without quarterback Tanner Morgan finding Chris Autman-Bell in the corner of the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown on fourth and 13 with 46 seconds left to force OT. Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 6 Dec. 2019 See More
Adjective
And the two of them go off to kill the wrong guy, which isn’t heroic. Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Aug. 2022 Yes, the logistical efforts to pull people out were absolutely heroic, stories to be written and told eventually in the fullness of time. CBS News, 6 Oct. 2021 Both of these are real-life examples, the first being a description of the heroic exploits of ... Sarah Schutte, National Review, 4 Sep. 2022 Coach Steve Sarkisian brought the Ohio State transfer here to do just that, to use his famed arm for heroic football deeds and heal a program that’s been sputtering for about a decade now. Nick Moyle, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Sep. 2022 The heroic performance in The Whale that will deservingly dominate the attention, however, is Fraser, who hasn’t been this good since Gods and Monsters. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Sep. 2022 This is not Game of Thrones, which has more plainly heroic characters such as Ned Stark to root for; then again, Ned Stark couldn’t make it through one season of that show before he was beheaded. David Sims, The Atlantic, 29 Aug. 2022 Local officials initially painted the law-enforcement response as heroic and orderly. Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2022 Nankil would pull off a pair of heroic passes to McClure to tie the game with eight seconds left. Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 Noun
The most super heroic of the bunch, Kick-Ass, earned just $98 million in 2010. Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 3 June 2021 Watson, meanwhile, threw for 388 yards and two touchdowns while running for another, but not even his heroics could bail out the Texans (11-7) after they were outscored, 28-0, in the second quarter. Dave Skretta, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Jan. 2020 For all their athletic exploits to date, none compare with their off-field heroics. John Shea, SFChronicle.com, 28 Feb. 2020 Watson, meanwhile, threw for 388 yards and two touchdowns while running for another, but not even his heroics could bail out the Texans (11-7) after they were outscored 28-0 in the second quarter. oregonlive, 12 Jan. 2020 Jewell did not know it then, but the government already had its doubts about his heroics. Adam Carlson, PEOPLE.com, 1 Jan. 2020 And, on Sunday, his heroics once again buoyed the Broncos after Oakland cut its deficit to one point late in the fourth quarter with Renfrow’s short touchdown catch. Kyle Fredrickson, The Denver Post, 29 Dec. 2019 The necessary heroics on that side of the ball just don’t come with the level of frequency that championship contenders produce. Mike Jones, USA TODAY, 15 Dec. 2019 His heroics wouldn’t have been possible without quarterback Tanner Morgan finding Chris Autman-Bell in the corner of the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown on fourth and 13 with 46 seconds left to force OT. Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 6 Dec. 2019 See More Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1573, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing heroic
Kids Definition
heroic
adjective
he·ro·ic hi-ˈrō-ik
1
: of or relating to heroism or heroes
heroic tales
2
: courageous, daring
a heroic rescue
Medical Definition
heroic
adjective
he·ro·ic
hi-ˈrō-ik also her-ˈō- or hē-ˈrō-
1
: of a kind that is likely to be undertaken only to save life
heroic surgery
heroic treatment
2
: having a pronounced effect —used chiefly of medicaments or dosage
heroic doses
a heroic drug
heroic
adjective
variants also heroical
1
as in courageous
feeling or displaying no fear by temperament a memorial honoring the heroic nurses who served in the war Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- courageous
- valiant
- brave
- gallant
- valorous
- fearless
- manful
- doughty
- dauntless
- gutsy
- lionhearted
- intrepid
- stouthearted
- gutty
- undaunted
- stalwart
- stout
- adventurous
- bold
- daring
- unflinching
- resolute
- plucky
- spirited
- undauntable
- game
- lunatic
- hardy
- spunky
- determined
- greathearted
- adventuresome
- unswerving
- audacious
- dashing
- gritty
- undeterred
- undismayed
- venturous
- reckless
- brazen
- impetuous
- daredevil
- mettlesome
- foolhardy
- madcap
- venturesome
- insane
- foolish
- Spartan
- thoughtless
- imprudent
- nutty
- gamy
- impulsive
- rash
- heedless
- mad
- incautious
- hotheaded
- overconfident
- brash
- hasty
- gamey
- overbold
- precipitate
- unafraid
- crazy
- emboldened
- headlong
- firm
- comforted
- encouraged
- wild
- half-witted
- reassured
- heartened
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unheroic
- yellow
- cowardly
- coward
- fearful
- dastardly
- craven
- pusillanimous
- timid
- spiritless
- gutless
- timorous
- spineless
- nerveless
- scary
- ungallant
- fainthearted
- shy
- anxious
- diffident
- chicken
- nervous
- careful
- mousy
- cautious
- prudent
- apprehensive
- mousey
- skittish
- uncourageous
- milk-livered
- chickenhearted
- afraid
- poor-spirited
- weakhearted
- poltroon
- lily-livered
- frightened
- unadventurous
- upset
- chicken-livered
- heedful
- terrified
- startled
- agitated
- disturbed
- perturbed
- panicked
- scared
- horrified
- shocked
- weak
- unnerved
- disconcerted
- concerned
- unmanly
- spooked
- worried
- terrorized
- disquieted
- wimpy
- appalled
- dismayed
- panic-stricken
2
as in epic
large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception an opera production of heroic proportions Synonyms & Similar Words
- epic
- glorious
- majestic
- magnificent
- imperial
- monumental
- royal
- operatic
- noble
- regal
- splendid
- gallant
- grandiose
- extraordinary
- massive
- colossal
- sublime
- imposing
- august
- grand
- baronial
- proud
- cosmic
- Homeric
- tremendous
- impressive
- stupendous
- magnific
- celestial
- monstrous
- stately
- remarkable
- wondrous
- inflated
- prodigious
- extravagant
- cosmical
- apocalyptic
- awesome
- wonderful
- divine
- superb
- formidable
- marvelous
- terrific
- lavish
- awful
- kingly
- marvellous
- pompous
- redoubtable
- overblown
- princely
- striking
- gorgeous
- luxurious
- sensational
- apocalyptical
- sumptuous
- heavenly
- queenly
- resplendent
- opulent
- lordly
- prepossessing
- killer
- palatial
- splendiferous
- palatine
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unheroic
- humble
- modest
- ordinary
- unimpressive
- average
- unimposing
- lowly
- common
- mediocre
- unprepossessing
- sordid
- abject
- shabby
- trivial
- meretricious
- petty
- mean
- insignificant
- puny
- trifling
- run-of-the-mill
- paltry
- second-rate
- measly
3
as in monumental
unusually large a heroic statue of Alexander the Great astride his horse Synonyms & Similar Words
- monumental
- colossal
- gigantic
- mammoth
- giant
- massive
- monstrous
- huge
- titanic
- handsome
- majestic
- grand
- tremendous
- mighty
- mountainous
- monster
- formidable
- planetary
- herculean
- great
- cosmic
- super
- prodigious
- enormous
- astronomical
- galactic
- gargantuan
- oceanic
- mega
- pharaonic
- sizable
- immense
- vast
- leviathan
- cyclopean
- elephantine
- humongous
- substantial
- gigantesque
- whacking
- cosmical
- supersized
- big
- jumbo
- considerable
- grandiose
- astronomic
- major
- whopping
- super-duper
- bumper
- vasty
- extensive
- hulking
- humungous
- supersize
- voluminous
- lofty
- stupendous
- outsize
- bulky
- imposing
- Himalayan
- walloping
- goodly
- king-sized
- outsized
- oversize
- Brobdingnagian
- good
- hefty
- monolithic
- overgrown
- gross
- tidy
- staggering
- towering
- king-size
- overwhelming
- oversized
- august
- infinite
- immeasurable
- cavernous
- sizeable
- largish
- boundless
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- diminutive
- miniature
- tiny
- microscopic
- microscopical
- infinitesimal
- micro
- minuscule
- pygmy
- puny
- little bitty
- wee
- small
- midget
- bitty
- little
- pocket
- teeny
- smallish
- minute
- teensy
- petite
- bantam
- undersized
- mini
- microminiature
- dwarfish
- undersize
- teeny-weeny
- pint-sized
- Lilliputian
- dinky
- teensy-weensy
- pint-size
- half-pint