audacious

adjective

ȯ-ˈdā-shəs How to pronounce audacious (audio)
Definition of audaciousnext
1
as in bold
displaying or marked by rude boldness with an audacious disregard for innocent bystanders, rival gang members opened fire

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in courageous
foolishly adventurous or bold an audacious effort to start her own business with no real plan or funding

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in adventurous
inclined or willing to take risks audacious adventurers risking everything they had for a shot at glory

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of audacious His penchant for the audacious was on display in 2024 when Puigdemont suddenly appeared in Barcelona, gave a public speech and slipped through the police’s grip. — Joseph Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 Alejandro Iñárritu’s audacious satire starring Tom Cruise cost between $140 and $180 million to make, and pulled in just $8 million domestically and $20 million globally. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2026 The forwards who will one day play on the top two lines of an NHL team do audacious things. — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026 But none of these scenes or memories would have been possible without what may be one of the most audacious play calls in modern football history. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 3 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for audacious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for audacious
  1. bold
  2. courageous
  3. adventurous
  4. wise
  5. reckless
  6. daring
  7. brazen
  8. brave
Adjective
  • Finished in the label’s tiger yellow with bold black striping, the bike gave the collaboration a tangible centerpiece beyond the clothes.
    — Footwear News, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Pumpkin flowers, ghosts in cat-eye sunglasses, and bold checker-print accent nails all scream fun.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of bold
Adjective
  • As with any courageous statement, acceptance is rarely unanimous.
    — Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Sadly, sports reformers across the country have abandoned the hard work of courageous whistleblowers, such as Bensel-Meyers, and now sing the tune of college athlete compensation.
    — Bruce Svare, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of courageous
Adjective
  • Anita recalled her grandson’s adventurous upbringing and his relationship with God.
    — Marisela Cruz, San Antonio Express-News, 17 Oct. 2026
  • This gift box contains eight bars, spanning from 58 to 80% cacao, in flavors like banana foster and green tea crunch for the adventurous and pink sea salt or pure cacao, dates, and vanilla for the purists.
    — Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of adventurous
Adjective
  • That ranks ninth in the Eastern Conference, expectations wise — and a little shy of the 46 wins Atlanta mustered last time around.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Helen is adept at shifting blame, and a wise woman realizes when she is outgunned.
    — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of wise
Adjective
  • Van Lemaster, 88, was booked into the Larimer County Jail on charges of vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, and reckless endangerment on Friday.
    — Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In 2016, Zelich pled guilty to first-degree reckless homicide in the death of Gamez and one count of hiding a corpse.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of reckless
Adjective
  • The project has since taken the brand on daring and adventurous trips to the most remote locations around the world, all documented by Mollison.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • At the center of it all is the daring, epic raid on a bank vault deep beneath the streets of Zurich.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of daring
Adjective
  • Lovato’s dress, courtesy of Fanci Club, was a deep shade of eggplant purple and topped off with a scarlet-red lace bralette, making for a brazen club-friendly outfit only enhanced by the even more noticeable shoes.
    — Erin Wisti, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The photos and trailer released Thursday show Boyle as a brazen, ambitious college student who teams up with Garner’s brainy Ellison to launch their own cryptocurrency business.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of brazen
Adjective
  • One fascination of this brave book—brave in its disclosures but more so in its demands, its spiritual rigor, and its ardent intellectualism—lies in watching the eloquent, intelligent sufferer steadily entrapping herself.
    — James Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Prioritizing oneself is something Ariana Grande has been brave about as well, with Grande perhaps the poster child for the biggest mental health story of the year.
    — Rob LeDonne, Billboard, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of brave

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Cite this Entry

“Audacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/audacious. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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