Meaning & use
staunch
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Strongly loyal and firm in support, belief, or principle, especially for a long time.
Grammar: Often before a noun or after remain; stauncher and staunchest are possible but less common than very staunch.
Patterns
- a staunch supporter
- staunch ally
- remain staunch
- staunch Republican/Democrat
She is a staunch supporter of public libraries.
He remained staunch even when the plan was unpopular.
They were staunch allies during the crisis.
verbtransitive
To stop or slow the flow of blood or another liquid, especially from a wound.
Grammar: Takes an object such as bleeding, flow, or wound; the spelling stanch is a less common variant.
Patterns
- staunch the bleeding
- staunch the flow
- staunch a wound
Pressure helped staunch the bleeding.
The nurse staunched the flow from the cut.
They worked quickly to staunch the leak.
Word forms
| third person singular | staunches |
|---|---|
| past tense | staunched |
| past participle | staunched |
| -ing form | staunching |
Common combinations
- staunch supporter
- A staunch supporter arrived early to help set up.
- staunch ally
- The group found a staunch ally in the mayor.
- staunch the bleeding
- Apply firm pressure to staunch the bleeding.
- remain staunch
- Despite criticism, she remained staunch in her support.
Synonyms and how they differ
- loyal
- Loyal is the general word for faithful support; staunch adds firmness that continues under pressure.
- steadfast
- Steadfast stresses not changing or giving up, often in purpose or love.
- committed
- Committed stresses dedication to a cause or course of action; staunch stresses dependable allegiance.
- resolute
- Resolute stresses a firm decision or refusal to yield; staunch often describes ongoing support of people or principles.
Opposites
Word family
- staunchly adverb
- In a firm, loyal way.
- staunchness noun
- The quality of being firm and loyal.
Commonly confused: staunch or stanch? staunch or staunchly?
staunch vs stanch
Stanch is a spelling variant of the verb meaning stop a flow, especially blood; the adjective meaning loyal is normally staunch.
staunch vs staunchly
Staunch is the adjective; staunchly is the adverb: a staunch ally, but she supported it staunchly.
Practice
Choose the best phrase for a sentence about loyalty.
Choose one answer.
Before a noun, staunch means firm and loyal. To staunch the bill incorrectly uses the verb for stopping flow, staunchly blood confuses adverb and noun, and stanch is mainly a verb variant.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “staunch”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.