daredevil 1 of 2

adjective

ˈder-ˌde-vᵊl How to pronounce daredevil (audio)
Definition of daredevilnext
1
as in reckless
foolishly adventurous or bold his daredevil stunts are sure to end in disaster someday

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Thousands of onlookers cheered wildly as daredevil pilot Bessie Coleman arced her Curtiss Jenny biplane into a spiral above a Houston field. —Victor Luckerson, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 May 2025 His daredevil approach left an indelible mark and influenced a generation of wrestlers who followed. —Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Noun
Lee was an editor, writer, ringleader and often the initial spark for a new character: What about a blind lawyer who fights crime using his other hypersensitive senses and was kind of a daredevil? —Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025 There is no daredevil, no cowboy attitude in any of these sequences. —Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 27 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for daredevil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for daredevil
  1. reckless
  2. daring
  3. cowboy
  4. courageous
  5. adventurous
  6. devil
  7. brave
  8. madman
Adjective
  • Aybar-Berroa also has a criminal history in New York City that includes arrests for second-degree reckless endangerment in May 2023 and fourth-degree felony grand larceny and petit larceny in March and April 2024, officials said.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2025
  • He is charged with two counts of first-degree reckless homicide as a party to a crime in the teens' shooting deaths.
    — Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025
Definition of reckless
Adjective
  • In today’s opinions newsletter: What worries Arizona farmers, the state’s first Turquoise Alert and a daring canal rescue.
    — Joanna Allhands, AZCentral.com, 26 July 2025
  • The series follows the daring exploits of Tamar Rabinyan, a highly-skilled Mossad agent dispatched to the Iranian capital to undermine the mullahs’ burgeoning nuclear weapons program.
    — Michael M. Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 25 July 2025
Definition of daring
Noun
  • Silverlake Cowboy The style dubbed Silverlake Cowboy blends together the modern hipster and a traditional cowboy aesthetic.
    — Logan Holland, People.com, 22 July 2025
  • Want a swoony cowboy romance or a short, speedy book?
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 17 July 2025
Definition of cowboy
Adjective
  • That means listening to the courageous parents and former yeshiva students who have spoken out and sounded the alarm — and being willing to stand up to entrenched interests when the stakes are as high as a child’s future.
    — Adina Mermelstein Konikoff, New York Daily News, 22 July 2025
  • In tennis, Billie Jean King was a courageous first.
    — Shelley Zalis, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Definition of courageous
Adjective
  • Memorable, inventive, and fully deserving of its place on the list, this one’s for the adventurous.
    — Lela London, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • There have been conflicts between rideshare drivers and taxis in the past, so consider sticking with a reputable taxi or car service, However, the more adventurous can rent a car to explore nearby cenotes, ruins, and regional highlights.
    — Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2025
Definition of adventurous
Noun
  • In his mug shot, Anton bears little resemblance to the handsome devil from the earlier composite image.
    — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
  • To play devil’s advocate to myself, though, this time around the contestants have air conditioning, which might have been a deal-breaker in order to get any contestants from The Golden Bachelor/ette there.
    — Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 8 July 2025
Definition of devil
Adjective
  • Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar applauded its brave storytelling.
    — Olivia Pinnock, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • The mayor and the county commissioners should join us and be brave with us.
    — Sister Ann Kendrick, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2025
Definition of brave
Noun
  • All do so, apart from the titular madman, who has a mysterious reason to stay behind.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 20 June 2025
  • But to equate that with the actions of an evil madman betrays a shocking and sad ignorance of history.
    — Boston Herald editorial staff, Boston Herald, 15 June 2025
Definition of madman

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Cite this Entry

“Daredevil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/daredevil. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on daredevil

Nglish: Translation of daredevil for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about daredevil

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