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heroism definition

hero·ism (her′ō iz′əm)

noun

the qualities and actions of a hero or heroine; bravery, nobility, valor, etc.

Etymology: Fr héroisme

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

heroism Synonyms

heroism

n.

rare fortitude, valor, bravery; see courage 1, strength 1, valor.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

heroism Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • worker: Despite the enormous heroism of the workers, the uprising was crushed.

Converse of object

  • display: She displayed remarkable heroism during the war years, and she expressed great love and sympathy for those who were in need of it.

Adjective modifier

  • extraordinary: He was awarded the Army's second highest decoration for gallantry, the Distinguished Service Cross, for " extraordinary heroism in action " .

Preposition: on

  • part: There was no lack of heroism on the part of the masses or courage on the part of individual revolutionists.

Preposition: in

  • face: The film presents the American victory as a result of heroism in the face of overwhelming odds.
heroism usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

heroism quotes

Neither fear nor courage saves us.Unnatural vices Are fathered by our heroism.Virtues Are forced upon us by our impudent crimes.

-Eliot,T(homas) S(tearns)

The greatest obstacle to being heroic is the doubt whether one may not be going to prove one's self a fool; the truest heroism is to resist the doubt; and the profoundest wisdom, to know when it ought to be resisted and when to be obeyed.

-Hawthorne, Nathaniel

   Think of the heroism of Johnson, think of that superb indifference to mortal limitation that set him upon his dictionary, and carried him through triumphantly until the end! Who, if he were wisely considerate of things at large, would ever embark upon any work much more considerable than a halfpenny post-card? Who would project a serial novel, afterThackeray and Dickens had each fallen in mid-course? Who would find heart enough to begin to live, if he dallied with the consideration of death?

-Stevenson, Robert Louis

heroism quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"heroism." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/heroism>

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heroism. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/heroism

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