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daredevil

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noun

as in cowboy
a person who seeks out very dangerous or foolhardy adventures with no apparent fear that little daredevil has broken an arm and an ankle this year alone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective daredevil contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of daredevil are adventurous, daring, foolhardy, rash, reckless, and venturesome. While all these words mean "exposing oneself to danger more than required by good sense," daredevil stresses ostentation in daring.

daredevil motorcyclists

When would adventurous be a good substitute for daredevil?

The synonyms adventurous and daredevil are sometimes interchangeable, but adventurous implies a willingness to accept risks but not necessarily imprudence.

adventurous pioneers

When could daring be used to replace daredevil?

In some situations, the words daring and daredevil are roughly equivalent. However, daring implies fearlessness in courting danger.

daring mountain climbers

When is foolhardy a more appropriate choice than daredevil?

The meanings of foolhardy and daredevil largely overlap; however, foolhardy suggests a recklessness that is inconsistent with good sense.

the foolhardy sailor ventured into the storm

Where would rash be a reasonable alternative to daredevil?

Although the words rash and daredevil have much in common, rash suggests imprudence and lack of forethought.

a rash decision

When might reckless be a better fit than daredevil?

The words reckless and daredevil can be used in similar contexts, but reckless implies heedlessness of probable consequences.

a reckless driver

In what contexts can venturesome take the place of daredevil?

While the synonyms venturesome and daredevil are close in meaning, venturesome implies a jaunty eagerness for perilous undertakings.

venturesome stunt pilots

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of daredevil
Adjective
The on-screen swashbuckler has kept his daredevil spirit, too, releasing the three-part series Orlando Bloom: To the Edge earlier this year. Brendan Le, People.com, 10 Oct. 2024 Her new boyfriend is daredevil LAPD cop Alex Shaw (Jason Patric). Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2024
Noun
Motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel died at 69, but not in a fiery crash. The Arizona Republic, 29 Nov. 2024 Among the acts are Colombia’s Duo Vanegas, daredevils who will defy gravity on a rotating Wheel of Wonder reaching over 30 feet in height, and contortionism performed by the body-bending Bone Breakers quartet from Guinea. Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 14 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for daredevil 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for daredevil
Adjective
  • Frank Santoro with the L.A. County district attorney’s office argued the probation department was making the necessary improvements and releasing youth inside would be reckless.
    Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2025
  • He’s become poised to the point of being unrecognizable from his Young Josh days as a gunslinging, sometimes reckless quarterback who sometimes took himself, his teammates and Bills fans on Sunday roller-coaster rides.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Indie filmmakers can make the daring projects a studio never would and do so on the cheap.
    Brian Welk, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2025
  • They were rescued on July 2, 2008, in a daring military extraction known as Operation Jaque.
    John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Watch on Deadline Dusty is a quiet guy and O’Connor, probably not a casting director’s idea of a cowboy, really manages to show us who this young man is, often with just his forlorn facial expressions rather than the limited dialogue he is given in many scenes.
    Pete Hammond, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2025
  • The Will Rodgers Foundation announced last week that the Palisades Fire claimed both historic homes of the famed cowboy actor and member of the Cherokee Nation.
    Russell Contreras, Axios, 14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Allowing those convicted of these crimes to be released early diminishes accountability and devalues the sacrifices made by courageous law enforcement officers and their families.
    Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
  • For example, a person might intend to be courageous (cognition), but fear (affect) and a fight-or-flight response (physiology) can hinder action (behavior).
    Mary Crossan, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Kylie Kangaroo Kylie is an adventurous kangaroo from Australia.
    Elisa Cinelli, Parents, 16 Jan. 2025
  • At such a young age, there is still massive scope for Reis to improve; from bulking up and becoming sturdier in the shoulder-to-shoulder duels to rediscovering his adventurous distribution at the highest level of the game.
    Thom Harris, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Play devil’s advocate, explore worst-case scenarios and invite constructive criticism.
    Mark Kane, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Against Djokovic, that battle can become a devil’s choice.
    Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Editor’s picks Most artists were given just three or four songs, but longtime Light of Day champion Jesse Malin was allowed to play 13 as part of his brave return to the stage.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Jan. 2025
  • Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, whatever these things are, you're supposed to put up a brave front, but there is that cruelty.
    Nick Romano, EW.com, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Along the way, there are stops at the legendary studio-trashing tornado unleashed by John Belushi favorites hardcore punk madmen Fear, as well as Ashlee Simpson’s 2004 lip synch fiasco.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 24 Jan. 2025
  • But as Trump embraces the madman theory of international relations, Fick worries that China, too, is becoming increasingly reckless.
    Eric Geller, WIRED, 16 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near daredevil

Cite this Entry

“Daredevil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/daredevil. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

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