heroic means of or relating to a hero or heroine; supremely noble. It carries an Arena rating of 1584, earned across 5 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, heroic ranks #2,543 of 14,308 for Most Malleable Words, #3,554 of 14,410 for Most Ponderous Words, #5,320 of 14,414 for Most Elegant Words, #6,157 of 14,297 for Words That Escaped Their Books.
heroic is pronounced /hɪˈɹəʊ.ɪk/.
Why “heroic” is a great word
Having or displaying the qualities of a hero, such as supreme nobility, courage, or larger-than-life character. From the Latin hērōicus ("of a hero, heroic"), from the Greek hērōïkós ("of, pertaining to a hero"), from hḗrōs ("hero"); first recorded in English use in the 1540s. Unlike “herolike,” which suggests a superficial imitation, or “gallant,” which emphasizes chivalrous manners, heroic denotes a profound and genuine magnitude of spirit. It is the raw courage to stand before an advancing tide, the quiet nobility in sacrificing a private life for a public good, and the enduring strength to bear a seemingly impossible burden—the word itself is a monument we build not to victory, but to the quality of the attempt, scorched and unshrinking.
Etymology
Partly from Middle French heroïque and partly from Latin hērōicus. By surface analysis, hero + -ic.
adj
- Of or relating to a hero or heroine; supremely noble.“heroic deeds”
- Courageous; displaying heroism.“To stand upon the ramparts and die for our principles is heroic. To sally forth to battle and win for our principles is something more than heroic.”
- Of a size larger than life, but less than colossal.
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- heroism 89% match — The qualities characteristic of a hero, such as courage, bravery, fortitude, selflessness, etc.; the display of such qualities. vs heroic →
- heroine 89% match — Characteristic of a heroine; heroic. vs heroic →
- paladin 85% match — A heroic champion, especially a knight. vs heroic →
- lionheart 84% match — A brave, heroic person. vs heroic →
- gallantry 84% match — courage. vs heroic →
- gallant 84% match — Brave, valiant, courteous, especially with regard to male attitudes towards women. vs heroic →
- extraordinary 84% match — Out of the ordinary; exceptional; unusual. vs heroic →
- doughty 83% match — Bold; brave, courageous. vs heroic →