daring

/ˈdɛərɪŋ/
boldly unconventional

She wore a daring red dress to the party.

She wore a bold, unconventional red dress to the party.


neutral

Showing a willingness to take bold risks or break conventions.

The daring stunt pilot performed loops in the sky.

The pilot took bold risks by performing loops in the sky.

His daring decision to invest in the startup paid off.

His bold decision to invest in the startup was successful.

Often implies admiration for the boldness, but can also imply recklessness depending on context.

neutral

Involving or requiring boldness or audacity.

The mission was daring and required precise timing.

The mission was bold and needed exact timing.

Used to describe actions or plans that are bold in nature.

Collocations

daring decisiona bold choice that involves riskdaring movean audacious actiondaring spirita bold and adventurous attitude

Pro Tip

Avoid overusing 'daring'

Use 'daring' for actions or people that are bold and unconventional. For everyday bravery, consider 'brave' or 'courageous'.

Gold Rule

Daring vs. Reckless

'Daring' implies boldness with a positive or admirable quality, while 'reckless' suggests a lack of caution. Context determines which word fits best.

Word Origin

From Middle English 'daring' (present participle of 'dare'), from Old English 'dǣre', related to 'dārst' (dare). The sense of 'boldness' emerged in the 16th century.

Usage Notes

Describes actions or people that are bold and unconventional, often with a positive connotation. Avoid using for reckless or irresponsible behavior unless context implies admiration.

Word Breakdown

dare
to have the courage to do something
root
+
-ing
present participle suffix
suffix
English Dictionary