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daredevil

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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

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

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 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 See All Example Sentences for daredevil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for daredevil
Adjective
  • The defense also contends that Trump, as a public figure, must show actual malice—proof that the Journal knew its reporting was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth—and that the complaint fails to do so.
    Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Western leaders largely dismissed these overt signals, assuming Putin would not be reckless enough to risk crippling sanctions, economic isolation, and a costly war.
    Big Think, Big Think, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The show runs a daring 90 minutes with no intermission and aims to excite audiences throughout.
    Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Oct. 2025
  • As time went on, Gatlin became more daring.
    Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • While not always a reflection of the true history of real cowboys, its cyclical commercialization is, in its own right, an American tradition.
    Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
  • There are holiday romances, cowboy romances, hockey romances.
    Karen Ostergren, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In her latest book, Strong Ground, Brown makes a compelling case that we’re not wired for this level of uncertainty, and risk losing focus on the core values of courageous and sustainable leadership.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
  • This was a fearless and courageous person.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • But when adventurous Milo comes into town, Prudence finds an unlikely friend with benefits.
    Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The Penguins probably could’ve gone more adventurous.
    The Athletic NHL Staff, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Japan had its own landmark naming case in 1994, when a family’s attempt to name their son Akuma, meaning devil, prompted government intervention and a debate over state involvement in naming.
    Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
  • At that moment, there was no scene involving a devil, but that quickly changed.
    Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Stay strong, be brave and if the elevator tries to bring you down, go crazy and punch a higher floor!
    Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Willing-to-put-your-heart-on-the-line brave?
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • During one of the harrowing trips, 11-year-old Spike (Alfie Williams) learns from his father, Jamie (Taylor-Johnson), of the location of a strange doctor named Kelson (Fiennes), but warns his son to stay away from the madman.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • In this 1980-set thriller, Brolin is all brawny and hunky (his shirt knows few buttons) as a desperate dad and former New York cop on a relentless pursuit of a madman (Cliff Forman) who has mistakenly kidnapped his daughter.
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Daredevil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/daredevil. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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