Bold vs. Brave: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Bold often describes a person's daring or audacious behavior, while brave refers to showing courage in the face of fear or adversity.
Key Differences
Bold implies a willingness to take risks or confront challenges with confidence and assertiveness. Brave, in contrast, is the ability to face and endure danger or pain, often in a more serious or heroic context.
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Boldness can be seen in actions or decisions that are daring and unconventional. Bravery typically involves a more profound moral or emotional strength, such as facing fear or standing up for what is right.
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In terms of personality traits, someone bold may be described as outspoken or fearless in expressing opinions. A brave person is often admired for their strength in facing difficult or dangerous situations, whether physical or emotional.
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Bold actions or choices are often about breaking norms or thinking outside the box. Brave actions are more about perseverance and enduring challenging circumstances, often with a sense of duty or responsibility.
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In literature and media, a bold character might challenge authority or make a grand gesture. A brave character is typically one who faces fears, risks, or sacrifices themselves for a greater cause.
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Comparison Chart
Context
Risk-taking, unconventional decisions
Enduring danger, moral courage
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Representation
Challenges authority, grand gestures
Faces fears, sacrifices for others
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Bold and Brave Definitions
Bold
Bold can describe someone who is fearless in expressing opinions.
His bold speech inspired many.
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Brave
Brave means showing courage in the face of danger or fear.
The firefighters were brave as they battled the blaze.
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Bold
Bold means being daring and confident.
She made a bold decision to start her own business.
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Brave
In historical contexts, brave often refers to warriors or heroes.
The brave knight defended the castle.
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Bold
Bold actions are often unconventional and innovative.
They took a bold approach to solve the problem.
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Brave
Brave actions involve moral or emotional strength.
It was brave of him to speak out against injustice.
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Brave
Brave can also mean readiness to face and endure danger.
The explorers were brave as they ventured into unknown territories.
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Bold
Requiring or exhibiting courage or daring
A bold voyage to unknown lands.
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Brave
Making a fine display; impressive or showy
“a coat of brave red lipstick on a mouth so wrinkled that it didn't even have a clear outline” (Anne Tyler).
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Bold
Strikingly different or unconventional; arresting or provocative
"[He] laid out a bold, new vision for America's leading universities" (Jerome Karabel).
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Brave
Excellent; great
“The Romans were like brothers / In the brave days of old” (Thomas Macaulay).
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Brave
(used with a pl. verb) People who exhibit bravery or courage considered as a group
“O'er the land of the free / And the home of the brave” (Francis Scott Key).
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Bold
Steep or abrupt in grade or terrain
"The two walk along the high, bold, rocky shore" (Harriet Beecher Stowe).
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Brave
To endure or face courageously
“He remained in his tent on inclement mornings while others in the party braved the rain ... looking for birds” (Bert O. States). “Together they would brave Satan and all his legions” (Emily Brontë).
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Bold
Visually striking; conspicuous.
The painter's bold use of colour and outline
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Bold
Having thicker strokes than the ordinary form of the typeface.
The last word of this sentence is bold.
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Bold
(Ireland) Naughty; insolent; badly-behaved.
All of her children are terribly bold and never do as they are told.
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Brave
(transitive) To encounter with courage and fortitude, to defy, to provoke.
After braving tricks on the high-dive, he braved a jump off the first diving platform.
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Brave
Bold; courageous; daring; intrepid; - opposed to cowardly; as, a brave man; a brave act.
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Bold
Forward to meet danger; venturesome; daring; not timorous or shrinking from risk; brave; courageous.
Throngs of knights and barons bold.
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Brave
Having any sort of superiority or excellence; - especially such as in conspicuous.
Iron is a brave commodity where wood aboundeth.
It being a brave day, I walked to Whitehall.
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Bold
Exhibiting or requiring spirit and contempt of danger; planned with courage; daring; vigorous.
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Brave
Making a fine show or display.
Wear my dagger with the braver grace.
For I have gold, and therefore will be brave.In silks I'll rattle it of every color.
Frog and lizard in holiday coatsAnd turtle brave in his golden spots.
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Bold
In a bad sense, too forward; taking undue liberties; over assuming or confident; lacking proper modesty or restraint; rude; impudent.
Thou art too wild, too rude and bold of voice.
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Brave
A brave person; one who is daring.
The star-spangled banner, O,long may it waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
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Bold
Somewhat overstepping usual bounds, or conventional rules, as in art, literature, etc.; taking liberties in composition or expression; as, the figures of an author are bold.
The cathedral church is a very bold work.
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Bold
Standing prominently out to view; markedly conspicuous; striking the eye; in high relief.
Shadows in painting . . . make the figure bolder.
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Brave
A man daring beyond discretion; a bully.
Hot braves like thee may fight.
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Bold
Steep; abrupt; prominent.
Where the bold cape its warning forehead rears.
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Brave
A challenge; a defiance; bravado.
Demetrius, thou dost overween in all;And so in this, to bear me down with braves.
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Brave
To encounter with courage and fortitude; to set at defiance; to defy; to dare.
These I can brave, but those I can not bear.
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Brave
To adorn; to make fine or showy.
Thou [a tailor whom Grunio was browbeating] hast braved meny men; brave not me; I'll neither be faced or braved.
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Bold
Fearless and daring;
Bold settlers on some foreign shore
A bold speech
A bold adventure
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Bold
Clear and distinct;
Bold handwriting
A figure carved in bold relief
A bold design
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Bold
Very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front;
A bluff headland
Where the bold chalk cliffs of England rise
A sheer descent of rock
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Brave
Possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching;
Familiarity with danger makes a brave man braver but less daring
A frank courageous heart...triumphed over pain
Set a courageous example by leading them safely into and out of enemy-held territory
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Bold
In design, bold refers to strong, noticeable features.
The artist used bold colors in her painting.
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Brave
Invulnerable to fear or intimidation;
Audacious explorers
Fearless reporters and photographers
Intrepid pioneers
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Bold
Bold can also mean standing out prominently.
The headline was printed in bold letters.
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Brave
Brightly colored and showy;
Girls decked out in brave new dresses
Brave banners flying
`braw' is a Scottish word
A dress a bit too gay for her years
Birds with gay plumage
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Brave
Brave can describe enduring pain or hardship without showing fear.
She was brave during her illness.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What characterizes a brave person?
A brave person is characterized by their ability to face and endure danger, pain, or difficult situations.
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Can boldness be seen in actions?
Yes, boldness is often reflected in daring and unconventional actions.
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Can bravery be learned?
Yes, bravery can be developed through experiences and conscious effort.
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How is bravery exhibited?
Bravery is exhibited in facing and enduring challenging or dangerous situations, often with moral strength.
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What is the meaning of brave?
Brave refers to showing courage in the face of fear or danger.
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Can bold and brave be used interchangeably?
They can overlap in meaning but are not always interchangeable, as bold emphasizes daringness, while brave emphasizes courage.
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Is being bold a personality trait?
Yes, being bold is considered a personality trait, often associated with fearlessness and confidence.
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What does bold mean?
Bold means showing an ability to take risks; confident and daring.
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How is bravery shown in everyday life?
Bravery in everyday life can be shown by facing fears, standing up for oneself or others, and enduring tough situations.
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Does bravery require physical strength?
Bravery is more about mental and emotional strength than physical strength.
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How do bold decisions impact life?
Bold decisions can lead to significant changes and opportunities in life.
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Is being bold always positive?
Being bold is generally positive, but it can be negative if it leads to recklessness.
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Can someone be quietly brave?
Yes, bravery doesn't always involve grand gestures; it can be quiet and steadfast.
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Do bold people always take risks?
Bold people are inclined to take risks, but not necessarily in every situation.
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Can bold actions be controversial?
Bold actions can sometimes be controversial, especially if they challenge norms or conventions.
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Can someone be bold but not brave?
Yes, one can be bold in expression or actions without necessarily having the courage to face fear or danger.
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Does being bold require confidence?
Yes, boldness typically involves a level of confidence and fearlessness.
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Is bravery a common trait?
Bravery is a valued trait, but its presence varies among individuals and situations.
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Are children naturally brave?
Children can show natural bravery, but it often develops more with experience and understanding.
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Is bravery always about physical danger?
No, bravery can also be about facing emotional or moral challenges.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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