Brave vs. Strong — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 30, 2023
"Brave" refers to having the courage to face danger or difficulty, while "Strong" pertains to having physical power or mental fortitude.
Difference Between Brave and Strong
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Brave" is often used to describe someone who possesses the moral or emotional strength to face challenges, fears, or difficult situations. On the other hand, "Strong" can describe both physical might and mental or emotional resilience.
A person described as "Brave" might not necessarily be physically powerful but has the courage to stand up for their beliefs or confront adversity. In contrast, someone labeled as "Strong" may have great physical strength or a robust mental constitution but may not always display bravery.
In literature, a "Brave" character is often one who faces danger head-on, even if they are afraid. A "Strong" character might not always face danger but can endure hardships due to their physical or mental toughness.
It's possible for someone to be both "Brave" and "Strong," exhibiting courage in the face of danger while also having the physical or mental fortitude to overcome it. However, being "Strong" doesn't automatically make someone "Brave," and vice versa.
A soldier on the battlefield may be commended for being "Brave" when confronting an enemy, while an athlete might be praised for being "Strong" due to their physical prowess. Both qualities, though distinct, are often admired and celebrated.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Showing courage
Having physical power or mental fortitude
Application
Primarily moral/emotional
Can be physical, mental, or emotional
Synonyms
Fearless, valiant, courageous
Powerful, tough, sturdy
Antonyms
Cowardly
Weak
Usage in Literature
Character facing danger despite fear
Character enduring hardships due to might or stamina
Compare with Definitions
Brave
Possessing courage.
She was brave enough to speak out.
Strong
Having physical power.
He's strong enough to lift the car.
Brave
Facing danger or pain without fear.
The brave firefighter saved the child.
Strong
Mentally or emotionally robust.
She has a strong character.
Brave
Bold in action or thought.
He made a brave decision to change careers.
Strong
Convincing or compelling.
His argument was strong and persuasive.
Brave
Standing firm against opposition.
The community was brave in its resistance.
Strong
Having the power to move heavy weights or perform other physically demanding tasks
She cut through the water with her strong arms
Brave
Fearless in expression.
Her brave speech moved the audience.
Strong
Able to withstand force, pressure, or wear
Cotton is strong, hard-wearing, and easy to handle
Brave
Possessing or displaying courage.
Strong
Very intense
A strong smell
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).
Strong
Used after a number to indicate the size of a group
A hostile crowd several thousands strong
Brave
Excellent; great
“The Romans were like brothers / In the brave days of old” (Thomas Macaulay).
Strong
Denoting a class of verbs in Germanic languages that form the past tense and past participle by a change of vowel within the stem rather than by addition of a suffix (e.g. swim, swam, swum).
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).
Strong
Relating to or denoting the strongest of the known kinds of force between particles, which acts between nucleons and other hadrons when closer than about 10⁻¹³ cm (so binding protons in a nucleus despite the repulsion due to their charge), and which conserves strangeness, parity, and isospin.
Brave
(Offensive) A Native American warrior.
Strong
Physically powerful; capable of exerting great physical force.
Brave
(Archaic) A bully.
Strong
Marked by great physical power
A strong blow to the head.
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).
Strong
In good or sound health; robust
A strong constitution.
A strong heart.
Brave
(Obsolete) To make showy or splendid.
Strong
Economically or financially sound or thriving
A strong economy.
Brave
To make a courageous show or put up a stalwart front.
Strong
Having force of character, will, morality, or intelligence
A strong personality.
Brave
Strong in the face of fear; courageous.
Strong
Having or showing ability or achievement in a specified field
Students who are strong in chemistry.
Brave
(obsolete) Having any sort of superiority or excellence.
Strong
Capable of the effective exercise of authority
A strong leader.
Brave
Making a fine show or display.
Strong
Capable of withstanding force or wear; solid, tough, or firm
A strong building.
A strong fabric.
Brave
Foolish or unwise.
Strong
Having great binding strength
A strong adhesive.
Brave
(dated) A Native American warrior.
Strong
Not easily captured or defeated
A strong flank.
A strong defense.
Brave
(obsolete) A man daring beyond discretion; a bully.
Strong
Not easily upset; resistant to harmful or unpleasant influences
Strong nerves.
A strong stomach.
Brave
(obsolete) A challenge; a defiance; bravado.
Strong
Having force or rapidity of motion
A strong current.
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.
Strong
Persuasive, effective, and cogent
A strong argument.
Brave
To adorn; to make fine or showy.
Strong
Forceful and pointed; emphatic
A strong statement.
Brave
Bold; courageous; daring; intrepid; - opposed to cowardly; as, a brave man; a brave act.
Strong
Forthright and explicit, often offensively so
Strong language.
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.
Strong
Extreme; drastic
Had to resort to strong measures.
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.
Strong
Having force of conviction or feeling; uncompromising
Strong faith.
A strong supporter.
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.
Strong
Intense in degree or quality
A strong emotion.
Strong motivation.
Brave
Specifically, an Indian warrior.
Strong
Having an intense or offensive effect on the senses
Strong light.
Strong vinegar.
Strong cologne.
Brave
A man daring beyond discretion; a bully.
Hot braves like thee may fight.
Strong
Clear and loud
A strong voice.
Brave
A challenge; a defiance; bravado.
Demetrius, thou dost overween in all;And so in this, to bear me down with braves.
Strong
Readily noticeable; remarkable
A strong resemblance.
A strong contrast.
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.
Strong
Readily detected or received
A strong radio signal.
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.
Strong
Having a high concentration of an essential or active ingredient
Mixed a strong solution of bleach and water.
Brave
A North American Indian warrior
Strong
Containing a considerable percentage of alcohol
Strong punch.
Brave
People who are brave;
The home of the free and the brave
Strong
Powerfully effective
A strong painkiller.
Brave
Face or endure with courage;
She braved the elements
Strong
Of or relating to a color having a high degree of saturation.
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
Strong
Having a specified number of units or members
A military force 100,000 strong.
Brave
Invulnerable to fear or intimidation;
Audacious explorers
Fearless reporters and photographers
Intrepid pioneers
Strong
Marked by steady or rising prices
A strong market.
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
Strong
Of or relating to those verbs in Germanic languages that form their past tense by a change in stem vowel, and their past participles by a change in stem vowel and sometimes by adding the suffix -(e)n, as sing, sang, sung or tear, tore, torn.
Strong
Of or relating to the inflection of nouns or adjectives in Germanic languages with endings that historically did not contain a suffix with an n.
Strong
Stressed or accented in pronunciation or poetic meter. Used of a word or syllable.
Strong
In a strong, powerful, or vigorous manner; forcefully
A salesperson who comes on too strong.
Strong
Capable of producing great physical force.
A big strong man; Jake was tall and strong
Strong
Capable of withstanding great physical force.
A strong foundation; good strong shoes
Strong
(of water, wind, etc.) Having a lot of power.
The man was nearly drowned after a strong undercurrent swept him out to sea.
Strong
Determined; unyielding.
He is strong in the face of adversity.
Strong
Highly stimulating to the senses.
A strong light; a strong taste
Strong
Having an offensive or intense odor or flavor.
A strong smell
Strong
Having a high concentration of an essential or active ingredient.
A strong cup of coffee; a strong medicine
Strong
(specifically) Having a high alcoholic content.
A strong drink
She gets up, and pours herself a strong one. - Eagles, Lying Eyes
Strong
(grammar) Inflecting in a different manner than the one called weak, such as Germanic verbs which change vowels.
A strong verb
Strong
(chemistry) That completely ionizes into anions and cations in a solution.
A strong acid;
A strong base
Strong
(military) Not easily subdued or taken.
A strong position
Strong
Having wealth or resources.
A strong economy
Strong
Impressive, good.
You're working with troubled youth in your off time? That’s strong!
Strong
Having a specified number of people or units.
The enemy's army force was five thousand strong.
Strong
(of a disease or symptom) Severe; very bad or intense.
Strong
Having a wide range of logical consequences; widely applicable. (Often contrasted with a weak statement which it implies.)
Strong
(of an argument) Convincing.
Strong
In a strong manner.
Strong
Having active physical power, or great physical power to act; having a power of exerting great bodily force; vigorous.
That our oxen may be strong to labor.
Orses the strong to greater strength must yield.
Strong
Having passive physical power; having ability to bear or endure; firm; hale; sound; robust; as, a strong constitution; strong health.
Strong
Solid; tough; not easily broken or injured; able to withstand violence; able to sustain attacks; not easily subdued or taken; as, a strong beam; a strong rock; a strong fortress or town.
Strong
Having great military or naval force; powerful; as, a strong army or fleet; a nation strong at sea.
Strong
Having great wealth, means, or resources; as, a strong house, or company of merchants.
Strong
Reaching a certain degree or limit in respect to strength or numbers; as, an army ten thousand strong.
Strong
Moving with rapidity or force; violent; forcible; impetuous; as, a strong current of water or wind; the wind was strong from the northeast; a strong tide.
Strong
Adapted to make a deep or effectual impression on the mind or imagination; striking or superior of the kind; powerful; forcible; cogent; as, a strong argument; strong reasons; strong evidence; a strong example; strong language.
Strong
Ardent; eager; zealous; earnestly engaged; as, a strong partisan; a strong Whig or Tory.
Her mother, ever strong against that match.
Strong
Having virtues of great efficacy; or, having a particular quality in a great degree; as, a strong powder or tincture; a strong decoction; strong tea or coffee.
Strong
Full of spirit; containing a large proportion of alcohol; intoxicating; as, strong liquors.
Strong
Affecting any sense powerfully; as, strong light, colors, etc.; a strong flavor of onions; a strong scent.
Strong
Solid; nourishing; as, strong meat.
Strong
Well established; firm; not easily overthrown or altered; as, a strong custom; a strong belief.
Strong
Violent; vehement; earnest; ardent.
He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears.
Strong
Having great force, vigor, power, or the like, as the mind, intellect, or any faculty; as, a man of a strong mind, memory, judgment, or imagination.
I was stronger in prophecy than in criticism.
Strong
Vigorous; effective; forcible; powerful.
Like her sweet voice is thy harmonious song,As high, as sweet, as easy, and as strong.
Strong
Tending to higher prices; rising; as, a strong market.
Strong
Pertaining to, or designating, a verb which forms its preterit (imperfect) by a variation in the root vowel, and the past participle (usually) by the addition of -en (with or without a change of the root vowel); as in the verbs strive, strove, striven; break, broke, broken; drink, drank, drunk. Opposed to weak, or regular. See Weak.
Strong
Having strength or power greater than average or expected;
A strong radio signal
Strong medicine
A strong man
Strong
Used of syllables or musical beats
Strong
Not faint or feeble;
A strong odor of burning rubber
Strong
Having or wielding force or authority;
Providing the ground soldier with increasingly potent weapons
Strong
Having a strong physiological or chemical effect;
A potent toxin
Potent liquor
A potent cup of tea
Strong
Able to withstand attack;
An impregnable fortress
Fortifications that made the frontier inviolable
Strong
Of good quality and condition; solidly built;
A solid foundation
Several substantial timber buildings
Strong
Of verbs not having standard (or regular) inflection;
`sing' is a strong verb
Strong
Having a high alcoholic content;
Hard liquor
Strong
Freshly made or left;
A warm trail
The scent is warm
Strong
Strong and sure;
A firm grasp
Gave a strong pull on the rope
Strong
Intense or potent in nature.
A strong flavor of garlic was present.
Strong
Resistant to external forces.
The building has a strong foundation.
Common Curiosities
Does "Strong" always refer to physical strength?
No, it can also mean mental or emotional strength.
Who's more likely to be called "Brave": a whistleblower or a bodybuilder?
A whistleblower, as bravery relates to facing moral or emotional challenges.
Can animals be described as "Brave"?
Yes, animals can show bravery in various situations.
Is "Strong" the same as "Powerful"?
They're similar, but "Strong" often refers to resilience, while "Powerful" can denote influence.
Is being "Brave" always good?
Generally positive, but recklessness can sometimes be mistaken for bravery.
Can objects be described as "Strong"?
Yes, like a "strong bridge" or "strong material."
Is "Brave" only related to facing fears?
Primarily, but it also relates to standing firm in beliefs or actions.
How can one become "Strong" mentally?
Through experiences, challenges, and mental exercises.
Can someone be "Strong" but not "Brave" in a situation?
Yes, they might endure but not confront or face the challenge.
Are heroes always "Brave"?
Most heroes display some form of bravery.
Which is more of an emotional term: "Brave" or "Strong"?
"Brave" often has a more emotional connotation.
Is a "Strong" flavor always spicy or intense?
Not necessarily spicy, but it's notably potent or pronounced.
Does being "Brave" mean you're never scared?
No, bravery often involves acting despite fear.
Are all athletes "Strong"?
Most have physical strength, but the term can vary based on the sport.
In a crisis, is it better to be "Brave" or "Strong"?
Both qualities can be beneficial, depending on the nature of the crisis.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
