adventurous

adventurous, venturesome, daring, daredevil, rash, reckless, foolhardy denote in common courting danger or exposing oneself to danger in a greater degree than is required for courage.

One who is adventurous is inclined to adventure; the word may or may not imply indiscretion or imprudence in incurring risk or hazard

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a mind active, ambitious, and adventurous . . . always aspiring— Johnson

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adventurous boys . . . climbed, shouting and laughing, over the rafters— Anderson

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Venturesome frequently implies an excessive tendency to take chances

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in 1919 Alcock and Brown undertook the first and highly venturesome crossing of the Atlantic by air— Manchester Guardian

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Daring heightens the implication of fearlessness

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a daring pilot in extremity, pleased with the danger, when the waves went high— Dryden

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Daredevil implies ostentation in daring and is often specifically applied to stunts performed for hire as a public spectacle or to their performers

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a daredevil acrobat

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Rash implies imprudent hastiness or boldness in word or action; reckless, utter heedlessness or carelessness of consequences

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we must detain him . . . . If we do not I am convinced Austin will do something rash that he will for ever repent— Meredith

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a reckless disregard of the future

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reckless audacity came to be considered courage— Derek Patmore

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Foolhardy implies a foolish daring or recklessness and may be used of persons or of their acts

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the perfectly foolhardy feat of swimming the flood— Sinclair Lewis

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Analogous words: audacious, bold, intrepid, doughty (see BRAVE): aspiring, panting (see AIM vb): *ambitious, emulous

Antonyms: unadventurous: cautious