daredevil 1 of 2

1
2

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

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
Wisecracking, cackling mini-maniac Teddy was the daredevil of the group. Sezin Devi Koehler September 1, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025 That includes deep dives into Tom Cruise's daredevil stunts and optional commentary by the film's director, Christopher McQuarrie. Alex Perry, The Enquirer, 18 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for daredevil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for daredevil
Adjective
  • A day after the state Legislature approved a bill intended to help Milwaukee crack down on reckless drivers, local officials met at the city's towing lot to send a message.
    Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Trump’s reckless tariffs are needlessly spiking inflation and driving up prices on everything from groceries to housing to utilities.
    Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 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
  • The Blackhawks were torn on whether to take the cowboy defenseman or the flashy forward with the second overall pick in the 2024 draft, and ultimately settled on Levshunov.
    Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Indeed, shortly after the 2016 historical drama Hidden Figures — in which Costner played neither a cowboy nor a water-faring mutant but a NASA scientist — the actor landed that rarest of opportunities in Hollywood, a shot at redemption.
    Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 8 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
  • For Johnson, Crunchyroll Manga adds an extra layer of discovery for adventurous readers.
    Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Urchin, which releases in theaters this Friday, is as adventurous as his on screen work.
    Esther Zuckerman, Time, 10 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
  • That is just a fraction of the workers harmed; that number is merely the number brave enough to speak up, risking all their future jobs.
    Arabelle Sicardi, Allure, 9 Oct. 2025
  • In mitigation, Tottenham have built a squad that does possess the players to link the midfield and attack, but with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski both out injured for the coming months, there is a need for more midfield players to be braver when progressing the ball.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 8 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 19 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on daredevil

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!