Ready to act or speak without being ruled by fear.
Reach for it when praising visible courage, especially when someone faces risk directly
Unafraid of an unpopular answer, Mei published the result that contradicted her own theory.
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
playful
Fits when risk-taking itself is exciting or unconventional
Careful Daring praises the gamble and may be wrong when caution was still essential.
everyday
Fits when willingness to take a conspicuous chance matters
Careful Bold choices can be reckless, while unafraid only describes the relation to fear.
everyday
Fits when a person acts well despite danger or fear
Careful Brave allows fear to be present; unafraid suggests it is absent or not controlling.
warm
Fits when bold courage deserves emphatic praise
Careful Fearless can overstate reality and romanticize risk that was carefully managed.
professional
Fits when belief in one's ability, not danger, explains the action
Careful Someone can feel confident in safety without ever meeting fear.
professional
Fits when principled action despite fear is the exact compliment
Careful Courageous is weightier than needed for ordinary confidence.
formal
Fits when a setback or threat failed to weaken resolve
Careful Undaunted requires something discouraging to have been encountered.
literary
Fits when adventurous courage should sound elevated
Careful Intrepid is theatrical for a quiet act such as asking for help.
unafraid to ask
She was unafraid to ask the basic question that exposed a dangerous assumption.
stand unafraid
The witness chose to stand unafraid beside the residents who had been ignored.
calm and unafraid
The child looked calm and unafraid once the nurse explained each step.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 Updated
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