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
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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:
The daredevil intensity that won Adrien Brody two Oscars translates forcefully to the stage in his Broadway debut in “The Fear of 13.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 29, 2026
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
And he was SantaCon’s resident daredevil, climbing the Brooklyn Bridge in 1998, only to hop back to earth and blend in anonymously with the SantaCon New York crowd.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 11, 2025
Unless you’re a daredevil who loves to incur risk, most of the time you should bet against beta.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2025
That’s why the jump to the regulation height high bar felt like a crazy daredevil move.
From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles
Monday's Republic Day parade featured Russian helicopters and planes, alongside dancers and motorcycle daredevils.
From Barron's ● Jan. 28, 2026
As the YouTube hit demonstrates, hot sauce isn’t just for daredevils and masochists: It’s a truth serum.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 20, 2025
It was a white-knuckle, high-wire business fit only for daredevils.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2025
At day’s end, legions gather to watch the sunset as daredevils leap from the Black Rock Beach boulders to the sea.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2024
“What regular daredevils you English are, nothing can stop you,” cried the officer.
From The Three Lieutenants by Webb, Archibald
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.
