fearless
UK: ˈfɪəlɪs | US: ˈfɪrlɪs
adj. lacking fear; brave or bold
adj. showing no concern for danger or difficulty
The word "fearless" combines "fear," derived from Old English fǣr (danger, sudden calamity) and later fēran (to frighten), with the suffix "-less," from Old English -lēas (without, free from). The suffix "-less" is a productive morpheme in English, often used to negate the root word. Thus, "fearless" literally means "without fear," reflecting a straightforward and logical construction. The word has retained its core meaning since its formation in Middle English, symbolizing courage or absence of dread.
The fearless firefighter rushed into the burning building to save the child.
She gave a fearless speech in front of the hostile crowd.
His fearless attitude inspired others to take risks.
The explorer was known for his fearless journeys into uncharted territories.
Despite the danger, the journalist remained fearless in her pursuit of the truth.