doughty
adjective
dough·ty ˈdau̇-tē 
doughtier; doughtiest
: marked by fearless resolution : valiant
a doughty warrior
doughtily
ˈdau̇-tə-lē
adverb doughtiness
ˈdau̇-tē-nəs
noun 
Did you know?
Doughty is a persevering English word. In Old English, it shows up as dohtig, which was probably an alteration of dyhtig that resulted from the influence of the Old English dohte, meaning "had worth." By the 13th century, the spelling doughty had begun to appear. The expected pronunciation would be \\DAW-tee\\, paralleling other similarly spelled old words like bought and sought. But over the centuries, the spelling was sometimes confused with that of the now-obsolete word doubty, meaning "full of doubt," and thus, so it is conjectured, we have the pronunciation we use today.
Synonyms
- bold
- brave
- courageous
- dauntless
- fearless
- gallant
- greathearted
- gutsy
- gutty
- heroic
- heroical
- intrepid
- lionhearted
- manful
- stalwart
- stout
- stouthearted
- undauntable
- undaunted
- valiant
- valorous
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the doughty heroes of old
Recent Examples on the Web Should the United States, a doughty republic oceans away from the carnage, feel a commitment to distant Kyiv? 
Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 28 June 2022 Despite the ministry’s nimble online work and doughty conventional fighting by Ukraine’s military, Russia's attacks have intensified, and some cities and towns have been captured by Russian forces. Wired, 17 Mar. 2022 One foot still in the stirrups, the doughty Englishman was saved by a loose-fitting shoe from being dragged to death. Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 1 Oct. 2021 Stymied by his dilemma, Bill turns to doughty flight attendant Jo. Malcom Forbes Special To The Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 16 July 2021 There was many a tense moment for George as Elizabeth moped about in tearful martyrdom while her mother and grandmother, the doughty old Queen Mary, fought her battle for her. Lily Rothman, Time, 9 Apr. 2021 Portraits of a few of these feckless rotters line the wall on the way to dinner, along with the portrait of another of the doughty women who seem to keep popping up in Yorkshire. Joshua Levine, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2021 These days the doughty turkey has won the loyalty of millions of people for another reason—as a favourite festive-season meal. The Economist, 23 Dec. 2020 There has been scant polling in Michigan accounting for the possibility of an Amash candidacy, but what little there is likely sends a shiver through the heart of Biden’s most doughty institutional supporters. Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 29 Apr. 2020 See More
Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 28 June 2022 Despite the ministry’s nimble online work and doughty conventional fighting by Ukraine’s military, Russia's attacks have intensified, and some cities and towns have been captured by Russian forces. Wired, 17 Mar. 2022 One foot still in the stirrups, the doughty Englishman was saved by a loose-fitting shoe from being dragged to death. Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 1 Oct. 2021 Stymied by his dilemma, Bill turns to doughty flight attendant Jo. Malcom Forbes Special To The Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 16 July 2021 There was many a tense moment for George as Elizabeth moped about in tearful martyrdom while her mother and grandmother, the doughty old Queen Mary, fought her battle for her. Lily Rothman, Time, 9 Apr. 2021 Portraits of a few of these feckless rotters line the wall on the way to dinner, along with the portrait of another of the doughty women who seem to keep popping up in Yorkshire. Joshua Levine, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2021 These days the doughty turkey has won the loyalty of millions of people for another reason—as a favourite festive-season meal. The Economist, 23 Dec. 2020 There has been scant polling in Michigan accounting for the possibility of an Amash candidacy, but what little there is likely sends a shiver through the heart of Biden’s most doughty institutional supporters. Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 29 Apr. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English dohtig; akin to Old High German toug is useful, Greek teuchein to make
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
doughty
adjective
as in valiant
feeling or displaying no fear by temperament the doughty heroes of old Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- valiant
- heroic
- brave
- gallant
- courageous
- fearless
- heroical
- lionhearted
- intrepid
- stalwart
- manful
- stouthearted
- bold
- valorous
- stout
- adventurous
- dauntless
- gutsy
- resolute
- undaunted
- gutty
- foolish
- hardy
- plucky
- determined
- spirited
- impulsive
- unswerving
- daring
- reckless
- spunky
- game
- undeterred
- dashing
- mettlesome
- unflinching
- greathearted
- adventuresome
- gamy
- undauntable
- venturesome
- venturous
- undismayed
- daredevil
- incautious
- gritty
- Spartan
- brazen
- impetuous
- brash
- nutty
- mad
- heedless
- rash
- audacious
- madcap
- firm
- lunatic
- hotheaded
- precipitate
- overconfident
- gamey
- overbold
- thoughtless
- foolhardy
- emboldened
- half-witted
- heartened
- hasty
- imprudent
- unafraid
- reassured
- encouraged
- wild
- insane
- comforted
- headlong
- crazy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- yellow
- nerveless
- craven
- cowardly
- pusillanimous
- coward
- dastardly
- timorous
- timid
- fearful
- unheroic
- spiritless
- spineless
- gutless
- ungallant
- mousey
- fainthearted
- chickenhearted
- mousy
- lily-livered
- chicken
- diffident
- shy
- poltroon
- nervous
- anxious
- skittish
- scary
- milk-livered
- careful
- prudent
- cautious
- apprehensive
- afraid
- perturbed
- chicken-livered
- heedful
- frightened
- weakhearted
- uncourageous
- disconcerted
- upset
- poor-spirited
- agitated
- startled
- panicked
- unadventurous
- terrified
- disturbed
- concerned
- unnerved
- weak
- scared
- spooked
- disquieted
- horrified
- terrorized
- worried
- shocked
- wimpy
- dismayed
- unmanly
- appalled
- panic-stricken
- by one's lonesome
- by one's own account
- by one's own admission
- by one's own bootstraps
- by one's own hand
- by oneself
- by ourselves
- by popular demand
- by prescription
- by reason of
- by request
- by return
- by return mail
- by return of post
- by right
- by rights
- by sea
- by sight
- by some distance
- by some miracle
- by someone's reckoning
- by stealth
- by step
- by storm
- by the boatload