DARING Synonyms: 245 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

daring 1 of 3

adjective

ˈder-iŋ

Definition of daring next

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

daring

3 of 3

verb

present participle of dare

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

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples 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 daring

Adjective

But the daring robbery spree hasn’t netted him very much. —

Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 18 Jan. 2025 Philipp Plein’s designs are a direct reflection of this shift providing luxury buying audiences greater permission to be more truthful and transparent about the very human need of wanting to be more daring and noticed. —

Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025

Noun

The daring of these companies is being driven by federal incentives and the race to deploy the first wave of small nuclear reactors around the world. —

Andrew Freedman, Axios, 18 July 2024 Founded in 2004, Participant Media, a production company known for its sociopolitical daring, burned an unusually bright arc across a filmscape that, more typically, reserved its fireworks for superheroes. —

Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2024

Verb

Against the Vikings in Week 10, the Jags played the highest percentage of two high safety snaps in a game — a shockingly passive approach — daring Darnold to consistently find shorter completions. —

Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025 First off, most studio horror films don’t take anywhere near the kind of risks that this daring genre flick takes. —

Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for daring

Recent Examples of Synonyms for daring

Adjective

Kylie Kangaroo Kylie is an adventurous kangaroo from Australia.

— Elisa Cinelli, Parents, 16 Jan. 2025
At such a young age, there is still massive scope for Reis to improve; from bulking up and becoming sturdier in the shoulder-to-shoulder duels to rediscovering his adventurous distribution at the highest level of the game.

— Thom Harris, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025

Definition of adventurous

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Style

“Daring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/daring. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

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Last Updated: 29 Jan 2025 - Updated example sentences

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Synonyms of daring

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noun

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