hero
Admired for valor
In older use, hero denotes an admirable man, real or fictional, who faces great adversity with bravery, strength, and virtue: John McCain is a war hero.
In modern use, hero is used to characterize a person who distinguishes him- or herself in a situation by doing something helpful or doing the right thing, which may involve some hardship or sacrifice: He was a hero for snatching the child out of harm’s way.
If you characterize someone as my hero, it may be a sincere or slightly ironic way to express your appreciation for an act of help or kindness.
Armed forces member
- veteranExperienced former soldier
- warriorOne skilled in combat
- combatArmed hostile engagement
- medalMetal honor token
decorated · valor · Purple Heart · Medal of Honor · Victoria Cross · fallen · sacrifice · service
Showing bravery under threat
- fearlessLacking any apprehension
- valiantCourageously determined
- gallantCourageously attentive and refined
- dauntlessUnable to intimidate
bold · daring · intrepid · stouthearted · undaunted · plucky · lionhearted · audacious
Person others emulate
- iconPictorial screen symbol
- idolObject of worship
- legendUnverified traditional tale
- paragonFlawless model to emulate
beacon · trailblazer · pioneer · mentor · visionary · guiding light · luminary · exemplar
Partly divine being
- HerculesLegendary Greek strongman
- AchillesGreek hero, mortal heel
- PerseusGorgon-slaying demigod
- OdysseusIthaca's long-wandering monarch
Beowulf · Gilgamesh · Sigurd · quest · epic · saga · odyssey · legend
One who saves others
- protectorOne who safeguards others
- defenderOne who guards another
- guardianProtective caretaker of another
- delivererOne who brings goods
liberator · lifesaver · champion · redeemer · avenger · vigilante · sentinel · paladin
Story's central figure
- leadDense metal, symbol Pb
- central figurePrimary person in focus
- narratorOne who tells events
- arcCurved line segment
journey · storyline · narrative · fiction · novel · drama · adventure · quest
Titled or virtuous
- honorableHaving high moral standards
- selflessConcerned with others' welfare
- altruisticConcerned for others' welfare
- righteousMorally good, justified
principled · ethical · chivalrous · integrity · dignified · upright · just · moral
Shouldered sleeveless wrap
- SupermanMetropolis's flying defender
- BatmanGotham's masked vigilante
- Spider-ManArachnid-themed masked hero
- MarvelSuperhero media conglomerate
DC · comic · action figure · origin story · superpower · alter ego · masked · caped crusader
soldier
Armed forces member
medal · decorated · valor · Purple Heart · Medal of Honor · Victoria Cross · fallen · sacrifice · service · bravery
courageous
Showing bravery under threat
- fearlessLacking any apprehension
- valiantCourageously determined
- gallantCourageously attentive and refined
dauntless · bold · daring · intrepid · stouthearted · undaunted · plucky · lionhearted · audacious · unflinching
role model
Person others emulate
paragon · beacon · trailblazer · pioneer · mentor · visionary · guiding light · luminary · exemplar · champion
demigod
Partly divine being
Odysseus · Beowulf · Gilgamesh · Sigurd · quest · epic · saga · odyssey · legend · pantheon
rescuer
One who saves others
- protectorOne who safeguards others
- defenderOne who guards another
- guardianProtective caretaker of another
deliverer · liberator · lifesaver · champion · redeemer · avenger · vigilante · sentinel · paladin · preserver
main character
Story's central figure
- leadDense metal, symbol Pb
- central figurePrimary person in focus
- narratorOne who tells events
arc · journey · storyline · narrative · fiction · novel · drama · adventure · quest · origin story
noble
Titled or virtuous
- honorableHaving high moral standards
- selflessConcerned with others' welfare
- altruisticConcerned for others' welfare
righteous · principled · ethical · chivalrous · integrity · dignified · upright · just · moral · exemplary
cape
Shouldered sleeveless wrap
- SupermanMetropolis's flying defender
- BatmanGotham's masked vigilante
- Spider-ManArachnid-themed masked hero
Marvel · DC · comic · action figure · origin story · superpower · alter ego · masked · caped crusader · franchise
sub
Fill-in worker
Italian · deli · cold cuts · footlong · torpedo · po'boy · cheesesteak · meatball · club
- game termslevel, score, player, win, lose
- heroesSuperman, Batman, Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, Thor
- fantasy adventuredragon, dragons, wizard, wizards, magic
- literary elementsplot, character, setting, theme, narrator
- mythologyZeus, Apollo, Athena, Poseidon, Odin
- sculpturestatue, sculpture, sculptor, sculpting, bronze
- heroic taleStory of great deeds
- unsung heroOne whose contributions go unnoticed
- jukebox heroOne who becomes legendary through coin-operated music
- action heroFilm's combat-driven protagonist
- heroic questsCourageous journeys seeking greatness
- war heroOne honored for combat bravery
heroic, heroism, heroine, heroes, heroin, heron, superhero, superheroes, antihero