1
2
3
as in valiant
feeling or displaying no fear by temperament stout souls who boldly ventured forward, not knowing what kinds of danger they faced

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5

Synonym Chooser

How is the word stout different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of stout are stalwart, strong, sturdy, tenacious, and tough. While all these words mean "showing power to resist or to endure," stout suggests an ability to endure stress, pain, or hard use without giving way.

stout hiking boots

When can stalwart be used instead of stout?

While the synonyms stalwart and stout are close in meaning, stalwart suggests an unshakable dependability.

stalwart environmentalists

Where would strong be a reasonable alternative to stout?

In some situations, the words strong and stout are roughly equivalent. However, strong may imply power derived from muscular vigor, large size, structural soundness, intellectual or spiritual resources.

strong arms
the defense has a strong case

When would sturdy be a good substitute for stout?

The words sturdy and stout can be used in similar contexts, but sturdy implies strength derived from vigorous growth, determination of spirit, solidity of construction.

a sturdy table
people of sturdy independence

When might tenacious be a better fit than stout?

The words tenacious and stout are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tenacious suggests strength in seizing, retaining, clinging to, or holding together.

tenacious farmers clinging to an age-old way of life

When is tough a more appropriate choice than stout?

The meanings of tough and stout largely overlap; however, tough implies great firmness and resiliency.

a tough political opponent

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stout The 6-foot-4, 320-pounder needs to be better at anchoring, as he too often was driven into the backfield by stout nose tackles last season. Dan Duggan, New York Times, 9 July 2025 Faison rushed for 1,109 yards and eight touchdowns for the Aggies last fall, averaging a stout 5.6 yards per carry. Chase Goodbread, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025 Erecting his sail-like, iridescent dorsal fin, the mudskipper wriggles his stout tail and launches himself into the air before falling back to earth with an unceremonious plop. Skylar Knight, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025 Former top recruits Roderick Kearney, a stout (6-4, 307) redshirt sophomore able to play guard and center, and towering redshirt freshman tackle Fletcher Westphal (6-8, 336) will push for a spot in the rotation. Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for stout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stout
Adjective
  • That’s where Baker and his team got the idea to find the sturdiest survivors and interbreed them with their Florida siblings.
    Alex Harris July 25, Miami Herald, 25 July 2025
  • The puppeteers then worked from the artist’s sculptures to make sturdier marionettes for performance.
    Ben Miller Laetitia Vançon, New York Times, 24 July 2025
Adjective
  • Prior to the arrival of police at the site of the deadly stabbing, a stocky bald man and a thin woman wearing her hair in a ponytail — both described as possibly homeless — were seen leaving the area in separate directions.
    City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2025
  • The priest was an Assyrian monk, a stocky, bushy-bearded man with long black hair; the girl looked to be about 11.
    John Jeremiah Sullivan James Patrick Cronin Emma Kehlbeck Zak Mouton, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Still, Jurassic World Rebirth makes a valiant effort to put its own terrifying spin on the source material.
    Megan McCluskey, Time, 3 July 2025
  • Despite his valiant efforts, however, Gi-hun doesn’t make it out of this story alive.
    Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • Outside the venue, fans spotted an art installation featuring a muscular figure enclosed in a clear box — seemingly a nod to the upcoming album’s cover art.
    Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 19 July 2025
  • Fortunately, the honorees delivered enough inspiration and muscular prowess — see: rugby star Ilona Maher, who was honored as breakthrough athlete of the year — to offset the edgy jabs aimed at women in the monologue from ESPYs host Shane Gillis.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 18 July 2025
Adjective
  • These meteors are relatively faint, without persistent trains or fireballs, but there will be solid chances of seeing this shower during the early morning hours this year.
    Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 23 July 2025
  • Yeah, that’s because Danny is a really nice, solid guy who usually has everyone’s back.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 23 July 2025
Adjective
  • The goal with donuts is to enjoy something tasty, not to replace hardy nutrition.
    Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
  • Alternative: Plant hardy groundcover plants like vinca, liriope, or creeping juniper.
    Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • During early October’s harvest, when golden Chasselas grapes are at their plump and juicy peak, explore medieval villages and 10th-century stone walls on foot, like on a 6.8-mile hike from St. Saphorin to Lutry, and visit cellars aboard the Lavaux Express train.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 18 July 2025
  • Ripe cherries should be large and plump, while undersized cherries likely need more time to mature.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • That means listening to the courageous parents and former yeshiva students who have spoken out and sounded the alarm — and being willing to stand up to entrenched interests when the stakes are as high as a child’s future.
    Adina Mermelstein Konikoff, New York Daily News, 22 July 2025
  • In tennis, Billie Jean King was a courageous first.
    Shelley Zalis, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stout. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on stout

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!