daredevil

1 of 2

adjective

dare·​dev·​il ˈder-ˌde-vᵊl 

: recklessly and often ostentatiously daring

daredevil

2 of 2

noun

: a recklessly bold person

daredevilry

ˈder-ˌde-vᵊl-rē 

noun

daredeviltry

ˈder-ˌde-vᵊl-trē 

noun

Synonyms

Adjective

• reckless
• courageous
• brave
• adventurous
• daring
• foolhardy
• heroic

Noun

• cowboy
• devil
• madman

Choose the Right Synonym for daredevil

adventurous, venturesome, daring, daredevil, rash, reckless, foolhardy mean exposing oneself to danger more than required by good sense.

adventurous implies a willingness to accept risks but not necessarily imprudence.

adventurous pioneers

venturesome implies a jaunty eagerness for perilous undertakings.

venturesome stunt pilots

daring implies fearlessness in courting danger.

daring mountain climbers

daredevil stresses ostentation in daring.

daredevil motorcyclists

rash suggests imprudence and lack of forethought.

a rash decision

reckless implies heedlessness of probable consequences.

a reckless driver

foolhardy suggests a recklessness that is inconsistent with good sense.

the foolhardy sailor ventured into the storm

Examples of daredevil in a Sentence

Adjective

his daredevil stunts are sure to end in disaster someday

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

Noun

He has always been a bit of a daredevil.

that little daredevil has broken an arm and an ankle this year alone

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Colerain Township native and daredevil photographer Isaac Wright was arrested May 15 at the end of his first solo gallery exhibition in New York City, his lawyer said. —Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

But continuity has always seemed an optional buy-in with M:I. A taste for elaborate, foolhardy, daredevil stunts is the only real prerequisite. —A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 20 May 2025

Noun

The character is a daredevil who embodies elements of real-life drivers Max Verstappen and James Hunt, bringing a high racing IQ and a knack for bending the rules to his advantage. —Sahil Kapur, NBC news, 17 June 2025

Impossible - The Final Reckoning, the actor performed that stunt 16 times Cruise also holds the organization’s title as the actor with the most consecutive $100-million-grossing movies ever Tom Cruise’s daredevil stunts are now in the history books. —Jack Smart, People.com, 5 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1727, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1794, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for daredevil

• multilevel
• bevel
• devil
• level
• mediaeval
• sublevel

Kids Definition

daredevil

noun

dare·​dev·​il

ˈda(ə)r-ˌdev-əl,

ˈde(ə)r-

: a recklessly bold person

daredevil adjective