valiant

1 of 2

adjective

val·​iant ˈval-yənt How to pronounce valiant (audio)
1
: possessing or acting with bravery or boldness : courageous
valiant soldiers
2
: marked by, exhibiting, or carried out with courage or determination : heroic
valiant feats
valiantly adverb
valiantness noun

valiant

2 of 2

noun

: a valiant person

Examples of valiant in a Sentence

Adjective She died last year after a valiant battle with cancer. Despite their valiant efforts, they lost the game. She made a valiant attempt to fix the problem.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
The Cybertruck is indeed a valiant effort in doing something new, and that’s not what most manufacturers dare to do. New Atlas, 12 Apr. 2025 In a valiant effort, Wanyonyi was able to hold off all three of these 1500-meter specialists. Katelyn Hutchison, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025 And outlets that cast Southern activists’ direct action as valiant often portrayed civil rights activism outside of the South as unreasonable, disruptive, and potentially dangerous. Made By History, Time, 4 Apr. 2025 Despite valiant efforts by special peace envoys, the Ukraine-Russian war raged on. Bruce Yandle, Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for valiant

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English vailant, valiant, borrowed from Anglo-French vaillant "worthy, strong, courageous," from present participle of valer "to be of worth," going back to Latin valēre "to have strength, be well" — more at wield

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1589, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of valiant was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Valiant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/valiant. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

valiant

1 of 2 adjective
val·​iant ˈval-yənt How to pronounce valiant (audio)
1
: boldly brave
2
: done with courage : heroic
valiantly adverb

valiant

2 of 2 noun
: a valiant person

More from Merriam-Webster on valiant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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