: a recklessly bold person
Synonyms
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
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
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
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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.
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Cite this Entry
“Daredevil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/daredevil. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
daredevil
noun
dare·dev·il
ˈda(ə)r-ˌdev-əl,
ˈde(ə)r-
: a recklessly bold person
daredevil
adjective
More from Merriam-Webster on daredevil
Nglish: Translation of daredevil for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about daredevil
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