savior
One who rescues
A savior is someone who rescues or delivers others from danger, harm, or destruction.
The word carries strong religious connotations, particularly in Christianity where the Savior refers to Jesus Christ as the redeemer of humanity.
In secular use, savior describes anyone who provides crucial help in a desperate situation: The firefighter was hailed as a savior by the trapped family.
The term can also be used ironically or critically when someone acts with an inflated sense of their own importance in helping others.
One admired for courage
- championTop competitor, or advocate
- defenderOne who guards another
- protectorOne who safeguards others
- warriorOne skilled in combat
knight · valiant · gallant · brave · courageous · fearless · avenger · crusader
Prophesied liberator figure
- redeemerOne who saves another
- prophetDivinely inspired messenger
- delivererOne who brings goods
- gospelSacred choral tradition
apostle · disciple · grace · divinity · miracles · resurrection · crucifixion · scripture
Recovery or moral restoration
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
- deliveranceRescue from bondage
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
mercy · grace · rescue · liberation · restoration · reconciliation · healing · renewal
One who frees others
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- abolitionistOpponent of human bondage
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
- delivererOne who brings goods
freer · releaser · independence · uprising · resistance · underground · manumission · bondage
Leader or instruction book
- teacherOne who instructs others
- guruRevered authority figure
- senseiJapanese word for teacher
- elderSenior figure of authority
master · counselor · advisor · coach · role model · inspiration · benefactor · patron
hero
One admired for courage
warrior · knight · valiant · gallant · brave · courageous · fearless · avenger · crusader · vindicator
messiah
Prophesied liberator figure
gospel · apostle · disciple · grace · divinity · miracles · resurrection · crucifixion · scripture · covenant
redemption
Recovery or moral restoration
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
- deliveranceRescue from bondage
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
forgiveness · mercy · grace · rescue · liberation · restoration · reconciliation · healing · renewal · rebirth
emancipator
One who frees others
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- abolitionistOpponent of human bondage
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
deliverer · freer · releaser · independence · uprising · resistance · underground · manumission · bondage · chains
guide
Leader or instruction book
elder · master · counselor · advisor · coach · role model · inspiration · benefactor · patron · supporter
lifesaver
Emergency rescue person
- paramedicPrehospital emergency caregiver
- firefighterEmergency blaze responder
- lifeguardPaid swimming supervisor
medic · coastguard · EMT · emergency · evacuator · ambulance · triage · survival · recovery · extrication
- heroeshero, heroes, heroine, heroines, superhero
- assistancehelp, help desk, aid, helpdesk, assistance
- helpersnurse, helper, volunteer, aide, assistant
- archetypeshero, villain, trickster, mentor, mother
- Saviorsmessiah, redeemer, deliverer, liberator, chosen one
- Messiahsmessiah, Christ, anointed one, Jesus, chosen one
saviordestroyer
One that ruins completely
killer · enemy · attacker · persecutor · tormentor
saviorSatan
Judeo-Christian arch-enemy of God
devil · Antichrist · Lucifer · demon · prince of darkness
- saving upGradually accumulating funds
- life savingsTotal accumulated personal wealth
- savings accountInterest-bearing bank holding
- saving graceCompensating good quality
- saving faceMaintaining public honor
- life-saving equipmentTools for rescuing people