Bold
adj.capable, energeticeveryday
Meaning 1
Willing to act despite risk, uncertainty, or the possibility of criticism.
Reach for it when praising a person, choice, or proposal for confident courage
Her bold decision to publish the failed trial prevented other teams from repeating it.
Choose between these
5- everyday
when fear or hardship is clearly present
not when A novel proposal can be bold without its author facing genuine danger.
- everyday
when the risk is exciting and unconventional
not when Daring can imply thrill-seeking, so it is wrong for sober moral courage.
- formal
when ambition pushes strikingly beyond convention
not when Audacious may suggest cheek or recklessness if respectful confidence is intended.
- literary
when someone repeatedly enters danger without shrinking
not when It is inflated for a confident design choice or ordinary workplace proposal.
- literary
when eagerness to try uncertain paths is the appeal
not when Use brave instead if the action answers duty rather than appetite for novelty.
Meaning 2
Designed or expressed so strongly that it immediately commands notice.
Reach for it when describing colors, flavors, statements, or visual choices with high impact
The poster uses a bold red border that remains visible from the street.
Choose between these
4- everyday
when contrast or effect feels theatrical
not when A bold choice can be spare and quiet, while dramatic suggests spectacle.
- everyday
when color or description feels intensely clear
not when Vivid does not mean courageous and should not describe the person who chose it.
- professional
when a style communicates confidence without apology
not when For people, assertive concerns expression and boundaries rather than visual prominence.
- professional
when immediate visual notice is the whole point
not when Striking need not be forceful in color, flavor, or opinion.
Said against
4- timid
- cautious
- faint
- subtle
It naturally appears in
3- bold decision
The bold decision opened the program to applicants without formal credentials.
- bold move
A bold move in the final round secured the team's place in the championship.
- bold design
The bold design pairs oversized type with generous empty space.
The word family
2Where this comes from
- merriam-webster, adjective senses 1a-1b opens in a new tab for meaning 1 · retrieved 2026-07-26
- merriam-webster, adjective sense 6 opens in a new tab for meaning 2 · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.