death-defying

IPA/ˈdeθ dɪfaɪɪŋ/
IPA/ˈdeθ dɪfaɪɪŋ/

death-defying — adjective

1. so dangerous that the person involved seems to be challenging death itself — use

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

so dangerous that the person involved seems to be challenging death itself — used to describe physical feats, stunts, escapes, or performances that involve a serious risk of dying

Example

Kenji performed a death-defying jump between two rooftops during the action film.

collocation: death-defying jump

The documentary showed footage of a death-defying climb up the frozen waterfall.

attributive use before noun 'climb'

Common collocations
  • death-defying stunt
  • death-defying feat
  • death-defying jump
  • death-defying climb
  • death-defying escape
  • death-defying act
  • death-defying performance
Synonyms
  • perilous

    more formal, often used in literature or news

  • hazardous

    suggests a known source of danger, used in more technical or workplace contexts

  • daredevil

    describes a person who enjoys taking extreme risks, not the activity itself

Antonyms
  • safe

    free from danger or risk

  • harmless

    unlikely to cause injury or damage

Grammar Patterns

death-defying + noun

be + death-defying

Usage Note

Most commonly used attributively (before a noun) to describe activities rather than people. It rarely describes a person's character; instead it describes the action or feat itself.

Common Mistakes

He is a death-defying person.
He performed a death-defying stunt.
the adjective describes the action, not the personality.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe situations involving risk, but they differ in intensity and use. 'Dangerous' (B1) is the most general word — it covers any situation that could cause harm ('a dangerous road'). 'Hazardous' (B2) suggests a known, often predictable source of danger and is common in workplace or environmental contexts ('hazardous chemicals'; 'hazardous driving conditions'). 'Perilous' (C1) is more formal and literary, implying a serious and immediate threat to life ('a perilous journey through enemy territory'). 'Daredevil' (B2) describes a person, not the activity — a daredevil enjoys doing risky things, while a death-defying act is what they perform. For example: 'The daredevil attempted a death-defying leap across the canyon — a perilous move that would have been too hazardous for anyone without years of training.'

dangerous ↗hazardous ↗perilousdaredevil ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in a death-defying + noun
  • with death-defying + noun

Etymology

Old EnglishOld FrenchLatinEnglish

A compound adjective formed from 'death' (from Old English 'dēaþ') and the present participle of 'defy' (from Old French 'defier', ultimately from Latin 'dis-' meaning 'away' + 'fidere' meaning 'to trust' — so literally 'to distrust or challenge'). The combined form has been used since the early 20th century to describe acts so risky they seem to mock or challenge death itself.