adventurous

adjective

ad·ven·tur·ous əd-ˈven-ch(ə-)rəs

Synonyms of adventurous

: disposed to seek adventure or to cope with the new and unknown

an adventurous explorer

: innovative

an adventurous artistic style

: characterized by unknown dangers and risks

an adventurous journey

adventurously adverb

adventurousness noun

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

And for an actress whose adventurous filmography spans the Hollywood blockbuster Pacific Rim and the offbeat indie Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter, the role draws on more of her range than ever. — Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026 Vega’s adventurous support continued this year with a new commission by Yuyan Wang, who unveiled a film about robots and animatronics as part of a show organized by the Fondazione In Between Art Film in Venice. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 22 Oct. 2026 Forty-six years after his death, Steve McQueen is still considered the King of Cool, a patron saint for adventurous desperados everywhere. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026 The project has since taken the brand on daring and adventurous trips to the most remote locations around the world, all documented by Mollison. — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for adventurous

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

See more words from the same century

Browse Nearby Words

adventurist

adventurous

adventurously

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Adventurous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adventurous. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

adventurous

adjective

ad·ven·tur·ous əd-ˈvench-(ə-)rəs

: ready to take risks or to deal with the new and unknown

adventurous explorers

: having unknown dangers and risks

an adventurous voyage

adventurously adverb

adventurousness noun

adventurous

adjective

Synonyms of adventurous

Examples of adventurous in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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