intrepid

in·trep·id

adjective \in-ˈtre-pəd\

Definition of INTREPID

: characterized by resolute fearlessness, fortitude, and endurance <an intrepid explorer>

— in·tre·pid·i·ty \ˌin-trə-ˈpi-də-tē\ noun

— in·trep·id·ly \in-ˈtre-pəd-lē\ adverb

— in·trep·id·ness noun

Examples of INTREPID

1. <an intrepid explorer who probed parts of the rain forest never previously attempted>
2. The heroes are intrepid small-business owners, investigative reporters, plaintiffs and their lawyers, and, of course, Nader himself and his grass-roots organizations. —Jonathan Chait, New York Times Book Review, 3 Feb. 2008
3. Author and explorer Dame Freya Stark was one of the most intrepid adventurers of all time. (T. E. Lawrence, no slouch in the travel department himself, called her “gallant” and “remarkable.”) —Kimberly Robinson, Travel & Leisure, December 1999
4. Meanwhile, the intrepid Florentine traveler Marco Polo had been to China and brought back with him a noodle dish that became Italian pasta … —Norman F. Cantor, The Civilization of the Middle Ages, 1993

Origin of INTREPID

Latin intrepidus, from in- + trepidus alarmed — more at trepidation

First Known Use: 1680

Related to INTREPID

Synonyms

bold, courageous, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant, greathearted, gutsy, gutty, heroic (also heroical), brave, lionhearted, manful, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, undauntable, undaunted, valiant, valorous

Antonyms

chicken, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, coward, cowardly, craven, dastardly, fainthearted, fearful, gutless, lily-livered, milk-livered [archaic], nerveless, poltroon, poor-spirited, pusillanimous, spineless, spiritless, timorous, uncourageous, ungallant, unheroic, weakhearted, yellow

Related Words

determined, firm, game, gamy (or gamey), gritty, plucky, resolute, Spartan, undeterred, undismayed, unflinching, unswerving; mettlesome, spirited, spunky; adventuresome, adventurous, audacious, daring, dashing, hardy, venturesome, venturous; crazy, foolish, half-witted, insane, lunatic, mad, nutty; brash, brazen, daredevil, foolhardy, heedless, hotheaded, impetuous, imprudent, impulsive, incautious, madcap, overbold, overconfident, rash, reckless, thoughtless, wild; hasty, headlong, precipitate; comforted, emboldened, encouraged, heartened, reassured, unafraid

Near Antonyms

diffident, mousy (or mousey), scary, shy, skittish, timid; anxious, apprehensive, nervous; careful, cautious, heedful, prudent, unadventurous; afraid, agitated, disconcerted, disquieted, disturbed, frightened, horrified, panicked, panic-stricken, perturbed, scared, shocked, spooked, startled, terrified, terrorized, unnerved, upset; appalled, concerned, dismayed, worried; unmanly, weak, wimpy