What is the difference between courage, bravery, valor, fearless and tenacity?

What is the difference between courage, bravery, valor, fearless and tenacity?

• The word bravery is used to describe unhesitating resolution in action despite risk; an act of bravery may be foolhardy and it may indicate a whim rather than some deep moral quality.

​

• A person who shows bravery on the battlefield is acting either with fearlessness or despite fear, but might be acting recklessly or to show off, and you might not have thought they would step up when needed; bravery is often episodic.
• The word ​courage​ is used to describe a strong moral backbone that impels or compels action out of integrity, regardless of risk or fear.

​

• A person with courage has a well-deserved reputation for doing the right thing even when it’s difficult to summon the strength to do so; courage is a character trait.
• The word fearlessness is generally used superficially to describe an apparent absence of fear.
• The word tenacity is quite different; it means a quality of perseverance that might be utterly unrelated to risk or fear.

​

• A person with tenacity sticks to the task or mission. They might go back for a sixth and seventh and eighth attempt to pass the driver test or the bar exam.
• The word valor is somewhat different; it means overall worthiness, a quality that often encompasses some degree of courage but need not do so.

​

• A person with valor is often strong, loyal, trustworthy, adept, and/or smart — in other words, a person who has shown their worthiness for a particular purpose.