intrepid

IPA/ɪnˈtrepɪd/
KK[ɪntrˈɛpəd]IPA/ɪnˈtrepɪd/

intrepid — adjective

  • intrepidpositive
  • more intrepidcomparative
  • most intrepidsuperlative

1. ready to go into danger or serious difficulty with strong courage and little sig

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

ready to go into danger or serious difficulty with strong courage and little sign of fear

Example

Karim remained intrepid as the rescue boat entered the rough waves.

pattern: remain + intrepid in danger

Devika stayed intrepid after the factory threatened her team.

pattern: stay + intrepid under pressure

Common collocations
  • intrepid explorer
  • intrepid reporter
  • intrepid traveler
  • intrepid climber
  • intrepid rescue worker
  • intrepid protester
Synonyms
  • brave

    the broad everyday word; less elevated and less dramatic in tone

  • fearless

    stronger in suggesting almost no fear at all

  • bold

    can describe confident or risky behavior even when there is little physical danger

  • dauntless

    more literary and old-fashioned, often used in praise

Antonyms
  • timid

    lacking confidence and easily frightened

  • fearful

    feeling or showing fear

  • faint-hearted

    not ready to face danger or difficulty with courage

Grammar Patterns

intrepid + noun

be/remain/stay + intrepid

too + intrepid + to + verb

Usage Note

Often used in formal or literary English for explorers, reporters, rescuers, or protesters facing real danger or strong pressure. It sounds more elevated and dramatic than the everyday word 'brave'.

Common Mistakes

The storm was intrepid all night.
The sailors stayed intrepid through the storm all night.
'intrepid' describes people facing danger, not the danger itself.
Nora was intrepid enough to try the new cafe alone.
Nora was bold enough to try the new cafe alone.
use 'intrepid' for real danger, pressure, or hardship, not a small everyday choice.

Word family

  • intrepidly
    adverbC2
  • intrepidity
    nounC2
  • intrepidness
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words suggest courage, but they point to different kinds of risk. 'Brave' is the broad everyday word for facing fear well. 'Fearless' is stronger and suggests almost no fear at all. 'Bold' often focuses on confident, risky action and can be used even when the danger is social rather than physical. 'Adventurous' usually means enjoying new or unusual experiences, not necessarily meeting danger head-on. 'Intrepid' is best when someone keeps moving forward through real danger or severe pressure, especially in formal writing. An intrepid reporter may enter a war zone, while an adventurous traveler may simply choose a new route for fun.

brave ↗fearless ↗bold ↗adventurous ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • remarkably intrepid
  • surprisingly intrepid
  • truly intrepid

Phrases

  • intrepid explorer
  • intrepid reporter
  • remain intrepid under pressure

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Intrepid comes from Latin 'intrepidus', a word for someone who is not alarmed or shaken. It is built from the negative prefix 'in-' and 'trepidus', meaning disturbed or anxious. English kept that sense of steady courage, and the word still sounds more elevated than plain 'brave'.

First known use

1680

1680, in the meaning defined above