What does doughtier mean?
“Doughtier” is the comparative form of the adjective “doughty,” meaning more courageous and determined. It is especially used to describe people who face danger, hardship, or serious challenges with resolve rather than simply avoid them. In a sentence such as “the doughtier of the two explorers pressed onward,” the word conveys both bravery and determination, giving the comparison a strong, slightly heroic tone. Doughtier belongs mainly to literary, historical, and elevated language, so “braver” will usually sound more natural in everyday speech. The full degree family is doughty, doughtier, and doughtiest, with “doughtily” available as an adverb. Although doughtier may resemble doughy in spelling, the words have unrelated meanings: doughy describes something soft, moist, or unresisting. Doughtier is worth knowing because it lends a vivid sense of fortitude to comparisons involving people, acts, or outcomes under difficult circumstances.
adjectiveMore courageous and determined than someone or something else.
- Courageous and determined, especially when facing danger or difficulty.
"The doughtier climbers continued despite the worsening weather."
"The doughtier of the two soldiers volunteered to investigate the disturbance."
"Her doughtier younger sister chose the more demanding course."
Despite sounding like a word about pastry, doughtier has nothing to do with dough; it means braver and more determined.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of doughtier
Doughtier derives from “doughty,” a word that passed into Middle English as dohty from Old English dēahtig, meaning strong, powerful, or bold. The modern adjective continues the sense of courage and determination associated with its historical forms. The base form doughty also produced the usual comparison doughtier and superlative doughtiest.
Related word forms
How doughtier is actually used
Doughtier is the comparative form of doughty. It is chiefly literary or elevated in style and appears more often in narrative, historical, or heroic contexts than in ordinary conversation.
Easily confused with doughtier
Doughtier means braver or more determined, whereas doughy means soft, moist, or unresisting, as in doughy bread or a doughy face.