daring

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of dare

comparative more daring · superlative most daring

1. Adventurous, willing to take on or look for risks; overbold.

   “There the cause of death was soon ascertained ; the victim of this daring outrage had been stabbed to death from ear to ear with a long, sharp instrument, in shape like an antique stiletto, which […] was subsequently found under the cushions of the hansom. […]”

   1904–1905, Baroness Orczy [i.e., Emma Orczy], “The Tremarn Case”, in The Case of Miss Elliott, London: T[homas] Fisher Unwin, published 1905, →OCLC; republished as popular edition, London: Greening & Co., 1909, OCLC 11192831, quoted in The Case of Miss Elliott (ebook no. 2000141h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg of Australia, February 2020

   Synonyms: audacious, dareful, bold, venturesome, adventuresome

2. Courageous or showing bravery; doughty.

   1 more example

   […]By this scimitar, That slew the Sophy and a Persian prince That won three fields of Sultan Solyman, I would outstare the sternest eyes that look, Outbrave the heart most daring on earth, Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear, Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey, To win thee, lady. […]

   c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]

   Synonyms: courageous, adventurous, mettlesome, aweless, bad, bold, brass-balled, chivalrous

3. Racy; sexually provocative.

   Just what I wanted, seeing my mom in a daring bikini—or worse yet, my being in one. I had the perfect drawer I could bury it in.

   2013, Randy Rawls, Best Defense, page 59

plural darings

1. uncountableusuallyBoldness.

   Synonyms: boldness, audacity, fearlessness, audacity, balls, bield, boldhead, boldness