audacious

adjective

ȯ-ˈdā-shəs How to pronounce audacious (audio)
Definition of audaciousnext
1
as in bold
displaying or marked by rude boldness with an audacious disregard for innocent bystanders, rival gang members opened fire

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in courageous
foolishly adventurous or bold an audacious effort to start her own business with no real plan or funding

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in adventurous
inclined or willing to take risks audacious adventurers risking everything they had for a shot at glory

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 audacious On occasion, overly exuberant executives have set up their successors for failure, by publicly pursuing audacious, sometimes inspiring, but ultimately unachievable goals as a part of their legacy. — Johannes Teyssen, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026 Game Changer season eight has been all about escalation, with the producers focusing on audacious ideas, technically complicated setups, and bigger, more chaotic casts. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026 The season 2 premiere sees one of the most audacious yet — a white nationalist paramilitary group operating in the Florida panhandle. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Sep. 2026 An infamous Marin County man convicted of several audacious crimes won’t be released from prison anytime soon. — Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for audacious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for audacious
  1. bold
  2. courageous
  3. adventurous
  4. wise
  5. reckless
  6. daring
  7. brazen
  8. brave
Adjective
  • Elia Kazan’s 1955 adaptation of East of Eden is a bold prestige melodrama of the sort Hollywood rarely makes these days.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2026
  • In a memo to Arthur Hays Sulzberger, the paper’s publisher, Markel urged a bold pivot.
    — Sam Ezersky, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of bold
Adjective
  • Now in its fifth year, the Albies is the Clooney Foundation’s annual ceremony, which shines an international spotlight on courageous individuals who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of justice, often at great personal risk.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2026
  • At the same time, sympathetic observers feed the need of protesters to feel relevant by praising participants for being bold, courageous, uncompromising and willing to endure abuse and hostility.
    — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of courageous
Adjective
  • Of note for more adventurous appetites are the oxtail and blue cheese pizza or Zambian whole bream fish.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Later, Mars trines Neptune in your 5th House and brings your adventurous energy somewhere much more enjoyable.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of adventurous
Adjective
  • Street-wise, independent travelers wanting to immerse themselves in the city, and live like locals without any of the hassle.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • But the show already had a natural stopping point coming up that would be appropriate, storytelling-wise.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of wise
Adjective
  • Whether or not Hal was right to entice Zoe (upon whose shoulders the carnage ultimately falls), his decision to circumvent the Guardians’ chain of command is what ultimately leads to countless deaths and his imprisonment for reckless endangerment.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • They would be purchased with such reckless abandon that your biggest fear would be a three-day rally that took stocks up 40%.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of reckless
Adjective
  • After two daring and provocative ready-to-wear shows, Jean Paul Gaultier creative director Duran Lantink took things down a notch this season.
    — Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The shoes feature a pointed-toe with a low-cut V-front and a cutout at the center of the vamp, adding another flirty detail to go with the daring pop of red on the sole that is the designer’s signature touch.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of daring
Adjective
  • Moscow's forces pounded apartment buildings, offices, data centers and a building of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in downtown Kyiv in a brazen daytime attack.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • There are also three shields on the top deck, high up where everyone can stare accusatorily at whoever is brazen enough to grab one.
    — Alice Burton, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of brazen
Adjective
  • One brave Washingtonian has already embarked on a quest to taste and rate them all.
    — Matt Brooks, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The fact that our law enforcement family lost four brave men that day should highlight that this is not a victimless crime.
    — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of brave

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Cite this Entry

“Audacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/audacious. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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