heroic
Worthy of medals
Heroic describes acts of exceptional courage or nobility, the kind associated with heroes: a heroic rescue, heroic efforts to save the company.
The word implies going beyond normal limits, often at personal risk or sacrifice.
Heroic can also mean grand in scale or ambition: heroic architecture, a heroic undertaking.
In poetry, heroic verse refers to the meter of epic poems.
Something described as heroic measures suggests extreme or last-resort interventions: Doctors took heroic measures to save him.
Lacking any apprehension
- courageousShowing bravery under threat
- valiantCourageously determined
- gallantCourageously attentive and refined
- intrepidResolutely without fear
bold · daring · undaunted · dauntless · lionhearted · stalwart · audacious · resolute
Titled or virtuous
- selflessConcerned with others' welfare
- altruisticConcerned for others' welfare
- honorableHaving high moral standards
- righteousMorally good, justified
magnanimous · principled · benevolent · chivalrous · loyal · devoted · compassionate · generous
Story's central figure
- archetypeOriginal model for copies
- journeyTravel from place to place
- narrativeAccount of events
- characterNature, symbol, or role
tragedy · triumph · antagonist · climax · transformation · arc · quest · theme
Legendary Greek strongman
- AchillesGreek hero, mortal heel
- PerseusGorgon-slaying demigod
- OdysseusIthaca's long-wandering monarch
- SiegfriedGermanic epic hero
demigod · titan · quest · labors · grail · pegasus · medusa · legendary
Ancient Greek war epic
- OdysseyEpic of homecoming
- BeowulfOld English epic's protagonist
- GilgameshMesopotamian epic protagonist
- AeneidRoman founding epic
Mahabharata · Ramayana · Homeric · saga · quest · chronicle · ballad · chanson
Suffering for conviction
- selflessnessPrioritizing others over oneself
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
loyalty · commitment · endurance · resilience · fortitude · abnegation · offering · atonement
Exceptionally large or significant
- larger-than-lifeImpressively exceeding normal proportions
- toweringOf imposing height
- imposingImpressively grand in scale
- statuesqueTall, graceful, dignified
grand · majestic · colossal · triumphant · glorified · exalted · celebrated · revered
fearless
Lacking any apprehension
- courageousShowing bravery under threat
- valiantCourageously determined
- gallantCourageously attentive and refined
intrepid · bold · daring · undaunted · dauntless · lionhearted · stalwart · audacious · resolute · unflinching
noble
Titled or virtuous
- selflessConcerned with others' welfare
- altruisticConcerned for others' welfare
- honorableHaving high moral standards
righteous · magnanimous · principled · benevolent · chivalrous · loyal · devoted · compassionate · generous · upright
protagonist
Story's central figure
character · tragedy · triumph · antagonist · climax · transformation · arc · quest · theme · legend
Hercules
Legendary Greek strongman
Siegfried · demigod · titan · quest · labors · grail · pegasus · medusa · legendary
Iliad
Ancient Greek war epic
- OdysseyEpic of homecoming
- BeowulfOld English epic's protagonist
- GilgameshMesopotamian epic protagonist
Aeneid · Mahabharata · Ramayana · Homeric · saga · quest · chronicle · ballad · chanson · bard
martyrdom
Suffering for conviction
- selflessnessPrioritizing others over oneself
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
dedication · loyalty · commitment · endurance · resilience · fortitude · abnegation · offering · atonement · immolation
monumental
Exceptionally large or significant
- larger-than-lifeImpressively exceeding normal proportions
- toweringOf imposing height
- imposingImpressively grand in scale
statuesque · grand · majestic · colossal · triumphant · glorified · exalted · celebrated · revered · immortalized
- legendarylegendary, mythic, iconic, immortal, titan
- difficultyeasy, hard, medium, difficult, moderate
- couragebravery, resilience, fearlessness, boldness, courage
- epicIliad, Odyssey, Beowulf, Aeneid, Gilgamesh
- valorbravery, courage, gallantry, fearlessness, intrepidity
- boldbold, brave, daring, fearless, courageous
heroicvillainous
Extremely wicked or criminal
dastardly · ignoble · dishonorable · base · ungallant
heroicpuny
Small and weak
insignificant · small · little · unimpressive · nonheroic
- 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
hero, heroism, heroine, heroes, heroic couplet, heroics, antihero, heroically, antiheroes