daredevil

1 of 2

adjective

dare·​dev·​il ˈder-ˌde-vᵊl How to pronounce daredevil (audio)
: recklessly and often ostentatiously daring

daredevil

2 of 2

noun

: a recklessly bold person
daredevilry noun
daredeviltry noun
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
Former professional driver Susie Wolff wants other women to know there is a place for them in motor racing, particularly Formula 1, the popular and glamorous international racing series historically associated with dashing, daredevil male drivers. Kristen O'Brien, Peoplemag, 27 Oct. 2023 From an evolutionary perspective, the daredevil behavior of a couple of listless individuals may well have had tremendous implications for the survival of our species. Tim Brinkhof, Discover Magazine, 5 July 2023 The daughter of an Indian aviator and daredevil freedom fighter, Ms. Mehta spent years moving between three continents, living in New Delhi, London and New York with her husband, one of the most renowned editors in English-language literature. Harrison Smith, Washington Post, 22 Sep. 2023 Invented at the Lucas County Fairgrounds, near Toledo, in 1923, thrill shows were daredevil acts, like Evel Knievel’s. Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2023 No single piece of graffiti art was more important than Quiñones’ daredevil project on a New York City subway in 1976. August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2023 Some daredevil travelers have taken it as a challenge to experience these skyrocketing temperatures firsthand, despite how dangerous and ill-advised that may be. Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 18 July 2023 Most action thrillers would save that kind of daredevil money shot for the release, praying that nobody leaked the footage and diminished the awe factor. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 July 2023 The 61-year-old actor has gone beyond being a marquee-name star to becoming his own movie genre, a sort of one-man blockbuster flavor that borrows liberally from those other types and adds in a special sauce that’s equal parts charisma, salesmanship, daredevil action, nonstop running and teeth. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 5 July 2023
Noun
Their antics were nerve-racking: there was much climbing of rocks, many daredevil jumps. Emma Cline, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2023 With the recent crowning of Pepper X as the new Guinness World Record holder for hottest chili pepper, here's a look into just how the spiciness of a pepper is calculated — and some examples of very hot chilis for food daredevils to enjoy. Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 17 Oct. 2023 Plus, a series of inspiring stories about women, daredevils, and daredevil women. CNN, 27 Sep. 2023 The women were accompanied by 80-year-old British daredevil Jon Goodwin, who purchased his ticket almost two decades ago. Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2023 But design daredevils can experiment with the top rug by varying its shape or changing its orientation (placing it diagonally, for example). Marisa Spyker, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2023 French daredevil Remi Lucidi died last week after falling from the 68th floor of a Hong Kong skyscraper, according to reports. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 31 July 2023 Tens of thousands of years ago in prehistoric Eurasia, some daredevil made friends with a gray wolf. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 31 July 2023 What to See Bike Haleakala Getty Images Calling all daredevils! Claire Stern, ELLE, 2 June 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'daredevil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1727, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1794, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of daredevil was in 1727

Dictionary Entries Near daredevil

Cite this Entry

“Daredevil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/daredevil. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

daredevil

noun
dare·​dev·​il
ˈda(ə)r-ˌdev-əl,
ˈde(ə)r-
: a recklessly bold person
daredevil adjective

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