Intrepid
adj.resilient, capableliterary
What it means
Willing to face danger, uncertainty, or hardship with determined courage.
Reach for it when praising bold action where the risk is real and knowingly accepted
The intrepid rescue crew crossed the flooded valley before nightfall.
Choose between these
7- everyday
eagerness for new experience matters more than danger
not when Adventurous can describe low-risk novelty and is less resolute.
- everyday
plain praise for acting despite fear is best
not when Brave lacks intrepid's suggestion of adventurous persistence.
- warm
apparent absence of fear is the intended emphasis
not when Fearless can deny sensible fear, while an intrepid person may feel it.
- professional
sound moral or physical courage deserves direct respect
not when Courageous need not involve exploration or unfamiliar danger.
- formal
bold willingness to exceed convention is central
not when Audacious can imply recklessness or impudence rather than worthy courage.
- literary
threats have failed to discourage the person
not when Dauntless sounds elevated and emphasizes resistance to intimidation.
- literary
heroic courage in a noble struggle fits the tone
not when Valiant is ceremonial and can overstate practical exploration.
Said against
3- timid
- fearful
- fainthearted
It naturally appears in
3- intrepid explorer
The intrepid explorer mapped springs that sustained travelers across the plateau.
- intrepid traveler
An intrepid traveler completed the winter route with two local guides.
- intrepid spirit
Her intrepid spirit survived every delay in the research voyage.
Where this comes from
- Merriam-Webster, adjective sense 1: characterized by resolute fearlessness, fortitude, and endurance opens in a new tab · 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.