Synonyms of daring

daring 1 of 3

adjective

ˈder-iŋ 

as in adventurous

inclined or willing to take risks

daring acrobats who risk life and limb every day for the entertainment of the crowds at the circus

Synonyms & Similar Words

• adventurous
• brave
• bold
• fearless
• courageous
• audacious
• venturous
• adventuresome
• venturesome
• gutsy
• enterprising
• hardy
• dashing
• reckless
• impulsive
• nerved
• heroic
• emboldened
• gallant
• foolish
• nervy
• valiant
• free-swinging
• foolhardy
• unafraid
• impetuous
• imprudent
• intrepid
• daredevil
• dauntless
• spirited
• stupid
• thoughtless
• rash
• undaunted
• madcap
• incautious
• wild
• heedless
• valorous
• brash
• silly
• hotheaded
• dumb
• overconfident
• plucky
• hasty
• spunky
• mad
• headlong
• absurd
• unnecessary
• overbold
• stalwart
• gritty
• wacky
• swashbuckling
• insane
• idiotic
• unreasonable
• stouthearted
• lunatic
• harebrained
• irrational
• stout
• asinine
• crazy
• lionhearted
• nutty
• witless
• moronic
• precipitate
• scatterbrained
• brainless
• balmy
• greathearted
• gadarene
• half-witted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• timid
• careful
• cautious
• unadventurous
• cowardly
• shy
• coward
• timorous
• prudent
• wary
• craven
• afraid
• pusillanimous
• unenterprising
• milky
• fearful
• frightened
• heedful
• overcautious
• startled
• scared
• terrified
• alarmed
• reasonable
• shocked
• wise
• spooked
• rational
• horrified
• sensible
• sound
• chickenhearted
• unnerved
• cool
• calm
• lily-livered
• sane
• affrighted
• poltroon
• milk-livered
• overcareful
• upset
• fainthearted
• levelheaded
• concerned
• worried
• sage
• terrorized
• dismayed
• appalled

daring

2 of 3

noun

as in courage

strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger

the daring that the early explorers of Oceania must have had

Synonyms & Similar Words

• courage
• bravery
• heroism
• gallantry
• courageousness
• prowess
• nerve
• fearlessness
• valor
• intrepidity
• hardihood
• daringness
• virtue
• guts
• stoutness
• heart
• gutsiness
• intrepidness
• dauntlessness
• pecker
• gumption
• bottle
• moxie
• determination
• fortitude
• intestinal fortitude
• greatheartedness
• mettle
• boldness
• grit
• pluck
• perseverance
• audacity
• doughtiness
• spunk
• stamina
• temper
• tenacity
• endurance
• backbone
• resolution
• temerity
• effrontery
• fiber
• pluckiness
• stomach
• gall
• brazenness
• cojones
• cheek

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cowardice
• timidity
• cowardliness
• fearfulness
• spinelessness
• timorousness
• cold feet
• softness
• weakness
• feebleness
• faintheartedness
• dastardliness
• cravenness
• hesitation
• impotence
• poltroonery
• indecision
• ineffectualness
• irresolution
• mousiness
• indecisiveness

daring

3 of 3

verb

present participle of dare

1

as in challenging

to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat

I dare you to repeat that to my face!

he dared his friend to race to the end of the block

Synonyms & Similar Words

• challenging
• confronting
• stumping
• defying
• braving
• breasting
• bearding
• brazening
• facing
• outbraving
• outfacing

2

as in confronting

to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage

every day the old fisherman dared the elements to make his meager living

Synonyms & Similar Words

• confronting
• facing
• braving
• defying
• withstanding
• breasting
• encountering
• resisting
• standing up to
• brazening
• challenging
• outbraving
• fighting
• bearding
• affronting
• outfacing
• fronting
• meeting
• approaching
• standing
• facing up (to)
• opposing
• accosting
• repelling
• cornering
• combating
• battling
• contending (with)
• squaring (off)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dodging
• avoiding
• sidestepping
• shirking
• ducking
• shunning
• eschewing
• funking
• shaking
• escaping
• evading
• eluding

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective daring contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of daring are adventurous, daredevil, foolhardy, rash, reckless, and venturesome. While all these words mean "exposing oneself to danger more than required by good sense," daring implies fearlessness in courting danger.

daring mountain climbers

When is it sensible to use adventurous instead of daring?

The meanings of adventurous and daring largely overlap; however, adventurous implies a willingness to accept risks but not necessarily imprudence.

adventurous pioneers

In what contexts can daredevil take the place of daring?

Although the words daredevil and daring have much in common, daredevil stresses ostentation in daring.

daredevil motorcyclists

When can foolhardy be used instead of daring?

In some situations, the words foolhardy and daring are roughly equivalent. However, foolhardy suggests a recklessness that is inconsistent with good sense.

the foolhardy sailor ventured into the storm

When is rash a more appropriate choice than daring?

The synonyms rash and daring are sometimes interchangeable, but rash suggests imprudence and lack of forethought.

a rash decision

When would reckless be a good substitute for daring?

The words reckless and daring are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, reckless implies heedlessness of probable consequences.

a reckless driver

When could venturesome be used to replace daring?

While the synonyms venturesome and daring are close in meaning, venturesome implies a jaunty eagerness for perilous undertakings.

venturesome stunt pilots

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of daring

Adjective

After a few minutes, there was a dive off the arch, followed by a cannonball from the next person, a backflip from a third and then other more spectacular and daring stunts from the flock. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Any caveats about the weather didn’t appear to keep families away from the carnival, as parents and kids advanced from midway games and the carousel to more daring rides like the Ferris wheel and the Ring of Fire. — Jim Dudlicek, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

Noun

Their coach, Rudi Garcia, showed some tactical daring, holding out two of his more prominent players until partway through the second half, injecting some energy into the game when the starters began to flag. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 7 July 2026

According to the Montreal garbageman Simon Paré-Poupart, toddler garbage fandom is a manifestation of the age-old human appreciation of strength and daring. — Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 18 June 2026

Verb

The offense still needs work in the pass game, but if teams play like Wisconsin did, basically daring Notre Dame to run the ball and take checkdowns in the pass game, Carr can play that way too. — Pete Sampson, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Your daring teen will love the waterslides and surf simulator, and your littles will enjoy the splash pads. — Alesa Andrew, Parents, 10 Sep. 2026