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
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
Launching an untested project requires not just intestinal fortitude but investment, and the cost of capital is coming down, said Judy Tu, SVP and senior relationship manager in City National Bank’s entertainment division, citing the Federal Reserve’s recent interest-rate reduction.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 27 Sep. 2024
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
Watching Ric Flair do business in the squared circle is worth the price of admission, subscription, one-time pay-per-view fee, or any other means of watching athletic displays of intestinal fortitude.
—Matt Caputo, SPIN, 1 Apr. 2022
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
Launching an untested project requires not just intestinal fortitude but investment, and the cost of capital is coming down, said Judy Tu, SVP and senior relationship manager in City National Bank’s entertainment division, citing the Federal Reserve’s recent interest-rate reduction.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 27 Sep. 2024
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
Watching Ric Flair do business in the squared circle is worth the price of admission, subscription, one-time pay-per-view fee, or any other means of watching athletic displays of intestinal fortitude.
—Matt Caputo, SPIN, 1 Apr. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intestinal fortitude
Noun
-
Name your values and state your boundaries, then celebrate your courage with something that restores your spark.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Creative courage returns as the instinctive Moon conjoins mischievous Mercury in your 5th House of Play, urging you to express whatever stirs within.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Wizards showed more fortitude on Thursday.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
If winning is the only goal, then war is, by profound inference, a game, a test of masculine fortitude.—
Casey Ryan Kelly,
The Conversation,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
His first period piece, the film follows a Belgian soldier grappling with cowardice and heroism in the trenches of WWI.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Luis Navarro, were later honored by city leaders for their heroism.—
Michael Ruiz , Greg Wehner , Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Tips on Preventing Injury, From a Run Coach Run coach Meg Takacs, the founder of Movement and Miles—an app that helps runners build mobility and stamina—says this study’s findings track with what she’s seen with her athletes.—
Emma Loewe,
Outside,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Gudmundsson’s stamina was on show at the end of that match, too.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Forced into bravery alone in space, there’s no time or space for self-doubt, only action.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
19 Mar. 2026
-
To render into the world a thing with no material qualities is a trick that requires bravery and luck, and is akin to art, which in the making can be uncertain and uncomfortable but in other moments sublime.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Flax Company’s core business is in linen fiber, both for the pure linen industry and cotton spinning applications.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The geometric tulip motif has a vintage look that still feels aligned with today’s trends and the washable jute and wool blend won’t pick up dirt or stains as easily as more delicate fibers.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There’s a quixotic gallantry to appealing to a saner conservative and looking ahead to a post-Trump American politics.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Queen Elizabeth later awarded Beaton the George's Cross, Britain’s highest civilian award for gallantry, for his role in saving her daughter’s life, and bestowed honors on Callender, as well as the other policemen and onlookers who intervened.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The players lived up to the program’s high standard of hustle and grit.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
-
There's real grit underneath the shag haircut and thigh-high boots, though; see the discotheque scene, where her entire body vibrates with a desperate mix of hope, terror, and determination.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Intestinal fortitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intestinal%20fortitude. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
