These words refer to a fearless willingness to take risks. Daring stresses bold, decisive, forceful or startling acts that set the performer apart and that may be viewed with awe or fear: a daring trapezist. Usually, the word implies admirable fortitude, cool-headed proficiency in the face of danger, or an unusual or original approach: a daring foray into enemy territory; a daring proposal to eliminate slums. Often the word is favourable and implies the successful execution of an action: a daring novel and implies the successful execution of an action: a daring novel brilliantly executed. Sometimes the word is used as a euphemism for risqué or salacious: daring photos of nude models. Adventurous indicates a habit of mind that is interested in exploring the new or untried, but the word gives fewer implications about the manner of execution. In this it is more general, being as applicable to a more relaxed or casual approach as to the decisive forcefulness indicated by daring : an adventurous mind that could painstakingly digest vast areas of new knowledge. Also, daring more often implies a single or specific goal, whereas adventurous can point to a general curiosity or zest for exploration: a daring manoeuvre; adventurous students out on a prank ready to try anything.

Venturesome also concentrates more on single or specific goals, but is otherwise less rich than daring in its implication. It can suggest a canny ?even prudent ?weighing of odds before action, however unconventional the action itself may be: a venturesome gamble with new shares that paid off on the market largely because of the investor’s shrewdness. Venturous is now less common in use, pointing to the taking of risks, but with no necessary implications of shrewdness or decisiveness: a venturous fellow who had at least learnt to roll with the blows.