venturesome

adjective

ˈven(t)-shər-səm How to pronounce venturesome (audio)
Definition of venturesomenext
1
as in adventurous
inclined or willing to take risks a venturesome child tried to climb the huge tree

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dangerous
involving potential loss or injury the first solo pilot to undertake the venturesome crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by air

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective venturesome contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of venturesome are adventurous, daredevil, daring, foolhardy, rash, and reckless. While all these words mean "exposing oneself to danger more than required by good sense," venturesome implies a jaunty eagerness for perilous undertakings.

venturesome stunt pilots

When is it sensible to use adventurous instead of venturesome?

The meanings of adventurous and venturesome largely overlap; however, adventurous implies a willingness to accept risks but not necessarily imprudence.

adventurous pioneers

When can daredevil be used instead of venturesome?

The synonyms daredevil and venturesome are sometimes interchangeable, but daredevil stresses ostentation in daring.

daredevil motorcyclists

When is daring a more appropriate choice than venturesome?

While the synonyms daring and venturesome are close in meaning, daring implies fearlessness in courting danger.

daring mountain climbers

When would foolhardy be a good substitute for venturesome?

The words foolhardy and venturesome are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, foolhardy suggests a recklessness that is inconsistent with good sense.

the foolhardy sailor ventured into the storm

When might rash be a better fit than venturesome?

In some situations, the words rash and venturesome are roughly equivalent. However, rash suggests imprudence and lack of forethought.

a rash decision

In what contexts can reckless take the place of venturesome?

While in some cases nearly identical to venturesome, reckless implies heedlessness of probable consequences.

a reckless driver

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of venturesome The venturesome Robert Irwin produced a spectral sculpture for a California mall in 1970, and Takashi Murakami infamously incorporated a Louis Vuitton pop-up in his 2007—08 traveling museum retrospective. —Andrew Russeth, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024 Don Murray, the venturesome actor who earned an Oscar nomination for playing a rodeo cowboy smitten by Marilyn Monroe in Bus Stop, then spurned Hollywood’s attempts to mold him, has died. —Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Feb. 2024 For example, until the early 2000s, Countrywide did no subprime lending, leaving the field to the venturesome likes of the Money Store and Guardian S&L. —Shawn Tully, Fortune, 18 July 2023 Part of a string of recent high-profile divorce records, Chemistry represents Clarkson at her most venturesome and liberated. —Vulture, 27 June 2023 See All Example Sentences for venturesome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for venturesome
  1. adventurous
  2. dangerous
  3. daring
  4. hazardous
  5. risky
  6. perilous
  7. serious
Adjective
  • For less adventurous palates, there will be barbecue and funnel cake vendors among about 30.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2025
  • Her newfound cachet, coupled with her adventurous tastes, brought her to unexpected places.
    — Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
Definition of adventurous
Adjective
  • This, in effect, frames even the movie’s unrelated, apolitical happenings as being at the mercy of this dangerous future, backed by Western powers.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 24 May 2025
  • Mensah and Bharadwaj take dangerous risks exploring an unknown area while Gurathin confronts Murderbot.
    — Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
Definition of dangerous
Adjective
  • Another suspect has been arrested in connection with a massive New Orleans jailbreak involving 10 inmates, who pulled off their daring escape earlier this week by slipping out a hole carved behind a prison toilet.
    — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 23 May 2025
  • Their absences seemed an eerie reminder that the troubled motion picture economy could no longer sustain either their soaring production budgets or their daring aspirations.
    — Peter Bart, Deadline, 22 May 2025
Definition of daring
Adjective
  • Other parts of the southeastern US could see hazardous weather Friday afternoon and evening.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 30 May 2025
  • However, a small portion of them, known as potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs), do require close monitoring.
    — Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
Definition of hazardous
Adjective
  • Not mentioned in the CIT decision—and likely riskier—is section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930.
    — Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
  • Orbiting and landing on such a small body is complicated, which is part of what makes the mission both interesting and risky, Michel said.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 28 May 2025
Definition of risky
Adjective
  • The first season traces Ellie and Joel’s perilous journey, punctuated by attacks by the infected, the depredations of groups of raiders, and betrayals galore by would-be allies.
    — Michael M. Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 30 May 2025
  • One brother, guided by moral duty, convinces the other to help the mother and join a perilous investigation to find the child.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 May 2025
Definition of perilous
Adjective
  • Some of the Thunderbird pilots flying high had to overcome serious obstacles on the ground.
    — Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 24 May 2025
  • Created by a Benedictine monk with a serious eye for detail, this whimsical stop features 125 tiny, handcrafted replicas of famous historic landmarks, like St. Peter’s Basilica and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, all located on the grounds of Alabama’s only Benedictine monastery, St. Bernard Abbey.
    — Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 24 May 2025
Definition of serious

Browse Nearby Words

ventures
venturesome
venturesomely
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Venturesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/venturesome. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on venturesome

Nglish: Translation of venturesome for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'Bring' vs. 'Take'

Is it 'used to' or 'use to'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

The Clinical History of 'Moron,' 'Idiot,' and 'Imbecile'

And So It Begins: 9 Words for Beginnings
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All