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
• hot dog
• berserk

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of daredevil

Adjective

Of course, memories of this viewing come to mind whenever a new video surfaces of a daredevil ski mountaineer descending a massive peak. —Outside, 25 Sep. 2025

Rounded plastic equipment prevents potential scraps and presumably is meant to prevent daredevil kids from climbing on top of slide tunnels or jungle gym towers. —Carrie Lukas, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025

Noun

In autumn, the gorge blazes with fiery foliage, and Bridge Day draws daredevils who BASE-jump from the bridge, 876 feet above the river. —Alexandra Gillespie, AFAR Media, 19 Sep. 2025

Butler and Malkovich turn bullying into hambone art, and Isaac magnetizes our sympathy as the daredevil but still relatively civilized Nick, who’s caught in the middle of all this. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025