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Synonyms

daring

American  
[dair-ing] / ˈdɛər ɪŋ /

noun

  1. adventurous courage; boldness.

    Synonyms:
    bravery, audacity
    Antonyms:
    caution

adjective

  1. bold or courageous; fearless or intrepid; adventurous.

    Synonyms:
    brave, audacious, venturesome, undaunted, dauntless
daring British  
/ ˈdɛərɪŋ /

adjective

  1. bold or adventurous; reckless

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. courage in taking risks; boldness

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of daring

First recorded in 1575–85; dare + -ing 1, -ing 2

Explanation

To be daring is to be bold, adventurous, and a little nervy. It’s a quality possessed by people who tend to take risks. If someone says, “I dare you,” and you always do, you’re a daring person. If you're daring, you dare to do things that are risky and even dangerous. A daring mountain climber goes for the top of Mount Everest, and a daring policeman enters the scariest houses to catch a crook. In comics and movies, superheroes are daring. Even quitting your job to start your own business is daring. The seafarers who first traveled across the globe were daring. Daring people are brave, and daring adventures are pretty exciting.

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Vocabulary lists containing daring

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.

Starring in a Broadway production at 96, Squibb deserves a medal, not just for longevity but for discernment and daring as well.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

For audiences long used to polished TV comedy, the impact felt electric: humour that was not defined by censors but was messy, daring and alive in real time.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

In a daring exploit, we recovered a lost pilot behind enemy lines.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Early on Easter Sunday morning, the president celebrated the mission as one of the most daring of its kind in U.S. history.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

Sometimes Joe seemed to have forced Frank into a corner, but at the last minute Frank would execute a daring escape.

From "Hopping Mad (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #4)" by Franklin W. Dixon