adventurism
Americannoun
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defiance or disregard of accepted standards of behavior.
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rash or irresponsible policies, methods, or actions, especially in political or international affairs.
noun
Usage
What does adventurism mean? Adventurism is recklessness or risk-taking that disregards accepted standards of behavior. It is often used in political context to refer to rash or reckless policies or military actions. Unlike adventure and adventurous, which are almost always used positively, adventurism is almost always used negatively. It is typically used in discussion of political policies or actions considered irresponsible and poorly planned or thought out. Example: The unrest in the region follows decades of imperial adventurism that ignored the balance of power between the different groups.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of adventurism
1835–45; adventure + -ism, as translation of Russian avantyurízm
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.
The two had a deep and enduring friendship, as both were storytellers and bullshitters with a shared interest in overseas military adventurism.
From Slate ● Jul. 14, 2026
There’s the coalition warfare, the mercenaries and the overseas adventurism.
From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026
The latest retreat in Mali could spell the end of the adventurism in Africa that Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin envisaged as Russia’s route to riches.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026
"We don't want to bury the reforms," he added, but "bringing it to a vote before it is clear that there is support for it would be adventurism that is best avoided".
From Reuters ● Mar. 26, 2023
That’s bad news for regulatory adventurism at the SEC, Barr believes.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 16, 2022
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.
