daredevil
Americannoun
adjective
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of daredevil
Explanation
Do you love the thrill of a terrifying rollercoaster or the risky challenge of doing dangerous tricks on your skateboard? Then you're a daredevil, someone who is recklessly adventurous. A daredevil loves adventure and excitement and tends not to think much about the safety or wisdom of their actions. The man who walked on a wire between the towers of the World Trade Center was a daredevil, and the woman who was the first to ride a barrel over Niagara Falls was also a daredevil. This word is also used as another name for a stunt performer who attempts risky tricks in front of a live audience.
Vocabulary lists containing daredevil
Words to Describe a Hero or Heroine
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Uh-Oh: Synonyms for "Dangerous"
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Put on a Bold Face: Synonyms for "Brave"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Hundreds of spectators gathered at the base of the 101-storey tower to watch Alex Honnold, 40, embark on his daredevil feat, which was also broadcast live on Netflix.
From Barron's ● Jan. 25, 2026
In chaotic situations, he says, the brain of the average daredevil doesn’t produce much cortisol, a chemical involved in the fight or flight response.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026
Unless you’re a daredevil who loves to incur risk, most of the time you should bet against beta.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2025
The books feature cute animals using gadgets to solve crimes, catch robbers and undertake daredevil missions.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2025
I decided not to remind him that riding a moped might be considered a daredevil stunt by some.
From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon
Ten men suffered injuries Tuesday during the eighth and final bull run of Spain's famed San Fermin festival, bringing to 57 the total number of daredevils injured during this year's fiesta.
From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026
For the daredevils who live to test the boundaries of automotive performance and push their 200-mph machines to the brink, it is the equivalent of being stuck in third gear.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
It was a white-knuckle, high-wire business fit only for daredevils.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2025
Mountain goats are high-elevation daredevils, learning to balance upon the steepest of rocky edifices soon after they are born.
From New York Times ● May 1, 2024
His earlier essays in exploration had been attempts, like the unconnected and occasional efforts of Spanish and Italian daredevils.
From Prince Henry the Navigator, the Hero of Portugal and of Modern Discovery, 1394-1460 A.D. With an Account of Geographical Progress Throughout the Middle Ages As the Preparation for His Work. by Beazley, C. Raymond
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
