bold

[ bohld ]

adjective

, bold·er, bold·est.

1. not hesitating or fearful in the face of actual or possible danger or rebuff; courageous and daring:

   a bold hero.

   Synonyms: dauntless, valorous, intrepid, valiant, brave, adventurous, fearless

2. not hesitating to break the rules of propriety; forward; impudent:

   He apologized for being so bold as to speak to the emperor.

   Antonyms: modest

3. necessitating courage and daring; challenging:

   a bold adventure.

4. beyond the usual limits of conventional thought or action; imaginative:

   Einstein was a bold mathematician.

   a difficult problem needing a bold answer.

5. striking or conspicuous to the eye; flashy; showy:

   a bold pattern.

6. steep; abrupt:

   a bold promontory.

7. Nautical. deep enough to be navigable close to the shore:

   bold waters.

8. Printing. typeset in boldface.
9. Obsolete. trusting; assured.

bold

/ bəʊld /

adjective

1. courageous, confident, and fearless; ready to take risks
2. showing or requiring courage

   a bold plan

3. immodest or impudent

   she gave him a bold look

4. standing out distinctly; conspicuous

   a figure carved in bold relief

5. very steep

   the bold face of the cliff

6. imaginative in thought or expression

   the novel's bold plot

7. printing set in bold face

noun

1. printing short for bold face

Derived Forms

• ˈboldness, noun
• ˈboldly, adverb

Other Words From

• bold·ly adverb
• bold·ness noun
• o·ver·bold adjective
• su·per·bold adjective
• un·bold adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bold¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English bald, bold, Old English b(e)ald; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German bald, Dutch boud “bold,” Old Norse ballr “dire,” from unattested Germanic bálthaz; akin to Welsh balch “proud,” Irish balc “strong”

Word History and Origins

Origin of bold¹

Old English beald ; related to Old Norse ballr dangerous, terrible, baldinn defiant, Old High German bald bold

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. be / make (so) bold, to presume or venture; dare:

   I made bold to offer my suggestion.

More idioms and phrases containing bold

In addition to the idiom beginning with bold , also see big and bold ; make bold .

Synonym Study

Bold, brazen, forward, presumptuous may refer to manners in a derogatory way. Bold suggests impudence, shamelessness, and immodesty: a bold stare. Brazen suggests the same, together with a defiant manner: a brazen liar. Forward implies making oneself unduly prominent or bringing oneself to notice with too much assurance. Presumptuous implies overconfidence, effrontery, taking too much for granted.

Example Sentences

“And if Trump dismantles our democracy, as many fear will be the case, and the world’s greatest power, the U.S., becomes — in essence — a petrostate, it’s game over for climate action full stop for the foreseeable future, unless the rest of the world unites and takes bold action, including potentially the most punitive possible sanctions against the United States.”

From Salon

It’s a bold creative choice that elevates the narrative, but it wasn’t even the most difficult aspect of making the film.

From Los Angeles Times

“And if Trump dismantles our democracy, as many fear will be the case, and the world’s greatest power, the U.S., becomes — in essence — a petrostate, it’s game over for climate action full stop for the foreseeable future, unless the rest of the world unites and takes bold action, including potentially the most punitive possible sanctions against the United States.”

From Salon

The tangled wars in Sudan, Ethiopia and their neighbours cry out for bold action - and if he were so minded, Trump might cut the Gordian Knot.

From BBC

She was hailed as a hero when she took bold steps to shut down the city in the early days of COVID.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• clear
• colorful
• definite
• eye-catching
• flashy
• forceful
• lively
• loud
• spirited
• strong
• vivid