swashbuckling
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
-
of or characteristic of a swashbuckler
-
(esp of films in period costume) full of adventure and excitement
Etymology
Origin of swashbuckling
First recorded in 1685–95; swashbuckl(er) + -ing 2, -ing 1
Explanation
Going on bold, exciting, and exotic adventures is swashbuckling. The stories of the heroic outlaw Robin Hood involve a lot of swashbuckling. You can use swashbuckling as a noun or an adjective, so you might dress up as the swashbuckling Inigo Montoya from the movie The Princess Bride, or try to convince your friends to watch a movie full of adventure and swashbuckling. Swashbuckler came first, a 16th-century name for a swaggering fighter. Earlier, such a character was simply called a swash, which also meant "fall of a blow."
Vocabulary lists containing swashbuckling
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.
On a sweltering Friday back at his home ground, Duckett reaped the rewards with a swashbuckling century to keep England in their deciding third Test against New Zealand.
From BBC • Jun. 26, 2026
They are part of a crew of swashbuckling space enthusiasts and retail traders who explored for riches in the cosmos and now look smart on the eve of the blockbuster SpaceX IPO.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026
The swashbuckling 17-minute short is a pitch-perfect elaboration on newspaper cartoonist E.C.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026
"I think swashbuckling, you know 'move fast and break things,' has kind of come out of favor," the physicist told AFP.
From Barron's • May 20, 2026
A swashbuckling adventurer wearing armor and a winged helmet stood with a glowing blue sword raised over his head, preparing to strike a troll cowering before him.
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
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.
