adventurous

adjective

ad·​ven·​tur·​ous əd-ˈven-ch(ə-)rəs How to pronounce adventurous (audio)
Synonyms of adventurousnext
1
a
: disposed to seek adventure or to cope with the new and unknown
an adventurous explorer
b
: innovative
an adventurous artistic style
2
: characterized by unknown dangers and risks
an adventurous journey
adventurously adverb
adventurousness noun

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for adventurous

adventurous, venturesome, daring, daredevil, rash, reckless, foolhardy mean exposing oneself to danger more than required by good sense.

adventurous implies a willingness to accept risks but not necessarily imprudence.

adventurous pioneers

venturesome implies a jaunty eagerness for perilous undertakings.

venturesome stunt pilots

daring implies fearlessness in courting danger.

daring mountain climbers

daredevil stresses ostentation in daring.

daredevil motorcyclists

rash suggests imprudence and lack of forethought.

a rash decision

reckless implies heedlessness of probable consequences.

a reckless driver

foolhardy suggests a recklessness that is inconsistent with good sense.

the foolhardy sailor ventured into the storm

Examples of adventurous in a Sentence

The island attracts adventurous travelers. He is an adventurous cook who is always trying new recipes. Her design is an adventurous departure from what we usually see. They have an adventurous lifestyle.
Recent Examples on the Web While Bamboo Penny’s is a Thai restaurant, Aqua Penny’s offers fine-dining for patrons with an adventurous palate for all things aquatic. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024 The last year has been filled with travel for our adventurous readers, who have road-tripped through Tuscany, ridden camels in the Sahara and toured some of India’s most spectacular landmarks. —Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024 The pair got up to some adventurous activities, including a helicopter ride around the Big Island. —Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024 As the film unfolds, scenarios range from thrilling roller coaster rides to epic space battles and adventurous journeys through landscapes. —The Arizona Republic, 15 Mar. 2024 Now, the good news: For the adventurous traveler, Asunción’s off-the-radar quality is its strongest asset. —Laurence Blair, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Schwinn High Timber Mountain Bike Buy on Amazon $476 Outdoorsy, adventurous tweens need a bike that’s ready to tackle any terrain. —Deanna McCormack, Parents, 19 Mar. 2024 Looking for another, more adventurous way to see the solar eclipse on April 8? Greyhound offers a bus route between Detroit and Toledo, starting at $17.99 one-way, that'll put you within the path of totality hours before the eclipse is supposed to pass over. —Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 14 Mar. 2024 The adventurous couple may want to fly south during New Zealand’s winter to the shores of Lake Wakatipu, just 45 minutes outside Queenstown, where the Relais & Chateaux property of Blanket Bay awaits. —Jillian Dara, Robb Report, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'adventurous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

alteration (with -d- restored from Latin) of Middle English aventurous "occurring by chance, daring, seeking new exploits," borrowed from Anglo-French, from aventure adventure entry 1 + -ous -ous

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of adventurous was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near adventurous

adventurism

adventurous

Advent wreath

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Adventurous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adventurous. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

adventurous

adjective
ad·​ven·​tur·​ous əd-ˈvench-(ə-)rəs How to pronounce adventurous (audio)
1
: ready to take risks or to deal with the new and unknown
adventurous explorers
2
: having unknown dangers and risks
an adventurous voyage
adventurously adverb
adventurousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on adventurous

Nglish: Translation of adventurous for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of adventurous for Arabic Speakers

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