heroic

[ hi-roh-ik ]

adjective

1. Also heroical. of, relating to, or characteristic of a hero or heroine.

   Synonyms: courageous, brave, gallant, valorous, valiant, dauntless

   Antonyms: cowardly

2. suitable to the character of a hero in size or concept; daring; noble:

   a heroic ambition.

   Synonyms: courageous, brave, gallant, valorous, valiant, dauntless

   Antonyms: cowardly

3. having or displaying the character or attributes of a hero; extraordinarily bold, altruistic, determined, etc.:

   a heroic explorer.

4. having or involving recourse to boldness, daring, or extreme measures:

   Heroic measures were taken to save his life.

5. dealing with or describing the deeds, attributes, etc., of heroes, as in literature.
6. of, relating to, or characteristic of the heroes of antiquity:

   heroic mythology.

7. used in heroic poetry. Compare heroic verse.

   Synonyms: epic

8. resembling heroic poetry in language or style; grandiloquent.
9. (of style or language) lofty; extravagant; grand.
10. larger than life-size:

    a statue of heroic proportions.

noun

1. Usually heroics. heroic verse.
2. heroics,
   1. flamboyant or extravagant language, sentiment, or behavior, intended to seem heroic.
   2. heroic action or behavior.

heroic

/ hɪˈrəʊɪk /

adjective

1. of, like, or befitting a hero
2. courageous but desperate
3. relating to or treating of heroes and their deeds
4. of, relating to, or resembling the heroes of classical mythology
5. (of language, manner, etc) extravagant
6. prosody of, relating to, or resembling heroic verse
7. (of the arts, esp sculpture) larger than life-size; smaller than colossal
8. RC Church
   1. held to such a degree as to enable a person to perform virtuous actions with exceptional promptness, ease and pleasure, and with self-abnegation and self-control

      heroic virtue

   2. performed or undergone by such a person

      the heroic witness of martyrdom

Derived Forms

• heˈroically, adverb
• heˈroicalness, noun

Other Words From

• he·ro·i·cal·ly adverb
• he·ro·i·cal·ness he·ro·ic·ness he·ro·ic·i·ty [heer-oh-, is, -i-tee], noun
• non·he·ro·ic adjective
• non·he·ro·i·cal adjective
• non·he·ro·i·cal·ly adverb
• non·he·ro·i·cal·ness noun
• non·he·ro·ic·ness noun
• pseu·do·he·ro·ic adjective
• pseu·do·he·ro·i·cal adjective
• pseu·do·he·ro·i·cal·ly adverb
• qua·si-he·ro·ic adjective
• qua·si-he·ro·i·cal·ly adverb
• su·per·he·ro·ic adjective
• su·per·he·ro·i·cal·ly adverb
• un·he·ro·ic adjective
• un·he·ro·ic·ness noun
• un·he·ro·i·cal adjective
• un·he·ro·i·cal·ly adverb
• un·he·ro·i·cal·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of heroic¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin hērōicus, from Greek hērōïkós “of, pertaining to a hero”; hero + -ic; compare late Middle English heroical, heroicus

Example Sentences

But where she lost her sense of safety, she and her neighbors reinforced their sense of solidarity through simple yet heroic acts of caring.

From Los Angeles Times

Rebuilding Spain’s shattered and traumatised communities will require an heroic effort that goes on for months.

From BBC

Wednesday’s heroics came with the Lakers having blown an early 15-point lead while their leading scorer, Anthony Davis, had been hampered with foul trouble and was largely ineffective.

From Los Angeles Times

Here under low, grey autumn skies the six remaining representatives of that huge and heroic moment, the men who were actually there, went quietly past in wheelchairs, with a collective age of 595 years.

From BBC

Maye could not reproduce his heroics in overtime, though, with an interception sealing a welcome second win of the season for the Titans.

From BBC

Related Words

• bold
• courageous
• daring
• epic
• fearless
• gallant
• grand
• gutsy
• noble
• valiant