intestinal fortitude

noun

Definition of intestinal fortitudenext
1
as in courage
strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger the one person who had the intestinal fortitude to stand up and denounce the injustice of it all

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fortitude
the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship you'll need considerable intestinal fortitude to take a job at that company, but the work experience will be worth it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 intestinal fortitude There may be longer races, and there may be more prestigious races, but none require the intestinal fortitude — in the most literal sense — needed to complete the International Taco Bell 50k. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2026 For their latest test of intestinal fortitude, the Nuggets were forced to endure a late comeback from the most clutch team in the NBA. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026 Wallin’s intestinal fortitude Wednesday, meanwhile, came as no surprise to Yorkville Christian coach John McAdams. — Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026 Having the intestinal fortitude to fight on no matter the circumstances is what builds champions. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2023 To a certain — albeit unquantifiable — extent, the perception that the Fed will have the intestinal fortitude to inflict pain on the economy in pursuit of its mandate is as important as the reality. — Martha C. White, CNN, 26 Aug. 2022 Faced with the prospect of going home and missing the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play in the Little League Intermediate World Series, the team showed tremendous resolve and intestinal fortitude. — Emmett Hall, Sun Sentinel, 28 July 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intestinal fortitude
  1. courage
  2. fortitude
  3. heroism
  4. stamina
  5. bravery
  6. fiber
  7. gallantry
  8. grit
Noun
  • As Earth faces an overwhelming alien threat, these young aviators are thrown into relentless combat that tests their loyalty, courage and faith in one another.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
  • One woman writing for Hers described spending about an hour working up the courage for her first weight-loss shot, only to find the thin needle barely hurt.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of courage
Noun
  • But more importantly — and what comes with age — is having the fortitude not to follow them.
    — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
  • That mental fortitude stood out to Green during a minor-league game in which Voit started 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of fortitude
Noun
  • Haloed in distorted guitar and jagged synths, Wolf comes off as a champion of her own avoidance, her heroism charmingly pathetic.
    — Enzo Escober, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Through much of the novel, Fee will attempt to make his own story one of such comic-book heroism, to take on the mantle of savior.
    — Garth Greenwell, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of heroism
Noun
  • Under that gorgeous screen, the watch is packed with 32GB of storage, tons of sports modes to track your activities, and a myriad of other metrics, including overall stamina, sleep, VO2 max, recovery insights, and even wrist power.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Ambitious mukbang-ers eager to prove their gastronomic stamina descended on Red Lobster locations across the country to consume absurd quantities of shrimp.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of stamina
Noun
  • What readers are saying The conversation explores the personal journey of the author in managing OCD, with many participants expressing admiration for the author's self-awareness and bravery in seeking help.
    — Eva Jaber, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Accounts of her bravery move the country, money and compensation flood in, and her family is suddenly in the spotlight.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of bravery
Noun
  • Thin copper wire is tightly wound around each of the fibers, serving as an electrode on each fiber.
    — Ben Coxworth October 11, New Atlas, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Mechanical recycling shortens cotton fibers, and the company recommends combining them with carrier fibers to maintain the quality and performance of finished textiles.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of fiber
Noun
  • In World Cup lore, however, his gallantry is doomed to be overshadowed by that of his fellow-goalkeeper from Cabo Verde, Vozinha, who had already produced an uncanny impersonation of a brick wall on the fourth day of the tournament.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
  • In all of these cases, the effect is largely the same—forging intimacy through some level of generosity or gallantry, coupled with pure, physical proximity—and in 2026, all of them are still technically possible.
    — Sara Delgado, Vogue, 9 July 2026
Definition of gallantry
Noun
  • Trying to install your own grit mentality with a roster full of transfers, which is common now in college football, has not produced results in Boulder.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The work still requires grit, focus, judgment and management.
    — Tara Youngblood, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of grit

Browse Nearby Words

interwoven
intestinal fortitude
intestine
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Intestinal fortitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intestinal%20fortitude. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of nexus

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All