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.

Photograph by Ramona Rosales / AUGUST Musgraves’s subsequent albums have been sprawling in their search for meaning, and even more adventurous in the sonic pathways travelled to get there. — Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026 Although the vernacular of prog rock has been an important part of Mastodon’s sound for the past 20 years, the group’s adventurous soloing comes even more to the fore on Marrow Deep. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026 There are dozens of ships, operators and itineraries, from small, adventurous expedition vessels to larger ships offering comfort and luxury. — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 Often cast in adventurous roles, he was much admired for his elegant bearing. — Daria Egidi, Vanity Fair, 23 Aug. 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 1 Sep. 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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