daredevil

1 of 2

adjective

dare·​dev·​il ˈder-ˌde-vᵊl 

: recklessly and often ostentatiously daring

daredevil

2 of 2

noun

: a recklessly bold person

daredevilry

ˈder-ˌde-vᵊl-rē 

noun

daredeviltry

ˈder-ˌde-vᵊl-trē 

noun

Synonyms

Adjective

• audacious
• brash
• foolhardy
• madcap
• overbold
• overconfident
• reckless
• temerarious

Noun

• devil
• madcap
• madman

Choose the Right Synonym for daredevil

adventurous, venturesome, daring, daredevil, rash, reckless, foolhardy mean exposing oneself to danger more than required by good sense.

adventurous implies a willingness to accept risks but not necessarily imprudence.

adventurous pioneers

venturesome implies a jaunty eagerness for perilous undertakings.

venturesome stunt pilots

daring implies fearlessness in courting danger.

daring mountain climbers

daredevil stresses ostentation in daring.

daredevil motorcyclists

rash suggests imprudence and lack of forethought.

a rash decision

reckless implies heedlessness of probable consequences.

a reckless driver

foolhardy suggests a recklessness that is inconsistent with good sense.

the foolhardy sailor ventured into the storm

Examples of daredevil in a Sentence

Adjective

his daredevil stunts are sure to end in disaster someday

a daredevil driver who thinks that drag racing on city streets is a harmless game

Noun

He has always been a bit of a daredevil.

that little daredevil has broken an arm and an ankle this year alone

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In 1910, a quarter of a million people had spent 10 days swooning over the Los Angeles International Aviation Meet — the nation’s first daredevil airshow. —Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024

Planes were first introduced into combat service during World War I, and the pioneering pilots who manned them became masters of the air, deploying daredevil maneuvers to outwit the enemy. —Kinsey Gidick, Southern Living, 16 Oct. 2024

Noun

Motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel died at 69, but not in a fiery crash. —The Arizona Republic, 29 Nov. 2024

Among the acts are Colombia’s Duo Vanegas, daredevils who will defy gravity on a rotating Wheel of Wonder reaching over 30 feet in height, and contortionism performed by the body-bending Bone Breakers quartet from Guinea. —Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 14 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1727, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1794, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

daredevil

noun

dare·​dev·​il

ˈda(ə)r-ˌdev-əl,

ˈde(ə)r-

: a recklessly bold person

daredevil adjective