Synonyms of daredevil

daredevil 1 of 2

adjective

ˈder-ˌde-vᵊl 

1

as in reckless

foolishly adventurous or bold

his daredevil stunts are sure to end in disaster someday

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reckless
• courageous
• brave
• adventurous
• daring
• foolhardy
• heroic
• overconfident
• audacious
• fearless
• brash
• madcap
• impulsive
• heroical
• gallant
• temerarious
• intrepid
• careless
• foolish
• adventuresome
• valiant
• venturous
• overbold
• dauntless
• venturesome
• impetuous
• undaunted
• hardy
• hotheaded
• gutsy
• valorous
• imprudent
• lionhearted
• incautious
• rash
• stalwart
• bold
• stouthearted
• scatterbrained
• doughty
• thoughtless
• manful
• stout
• heedless
• harebrained
• brainless
• headlong
• hasty
• greathearted
• undauntable
• precipitate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• careful
• cautious
• prudent
• wary
• safe
• circumspect
• guarded
• timid
• fearful
• heedful
• scary
• shy
• unadventurous
• skittish
• unambitious
• timorous
• cool
• calm
• fainthearted
• sensible
• levelheaded
• intelligent
• mousy
• alert
• sharp
• yellow
• mousey
• cowardly
• dastardly
• craven
• pusillanimous
• unheroic
• quick-witted
• recreant
• chicken
• spineless
• chickenhearted
• lily-livered

2

as in daring

having or showing a lack of concern for the consequences of one's actions

a daredevil driver who thinks that drag racing on city streets is a harmless game

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reckless
• daring
• adventurous
• foolhardy
• nonchalant
• irresponsible
• careless
• bold
• kamikaze
• devil-may-care
• harum-scarum
• hell-for-leather
• wild
• impetuous
• venturesome
• audacious
• hotheaded
• rash
• madcap
• carefree
• headlong
• hasty
• freewheeling
• incautious
• unworried
• unconcerned
• precipitate
• inattentive
• heedless
• regardless
• happy-go-lucky
• thoughtless
• unmindful
• feckless
• blithe
• mindless
• slaphappy
• unheeding
• unthinking
• inconsiderate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• responsible
• cautious
• careful
• circumspect
• timid
• heedful
• overcautious
• overcareful

daredevil

2 of 2

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

• cowboy
• devil
• madman
• madcap
• berserker
• showboat
• berserk
• hotdog

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 of daredevil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Famed daredevil Evil Knievel bought one, which sold a few years later to New York Yankees slugger Reggie Jackson. —Brett Berk, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Oct. 2024

Check out Perry and Bloom’s daredevil adventure below. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 13 Aug. 2024

Noun

At day’s end, legions gather to watch the sunset as daredevils leap from the Black Rock Beach boulders to the sea. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 31 Aug. 2024

The scoring system rewards both daredevils and technicians, but the best in the world make the toughest skills look easy. —Kaetlyn Liddy, NBC News, 30 June 2024