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adventurism

adventurism

3 7.9
Actions that are bold and risky, often in politics, and ignore careful planning
  • noun
  • /ædˈvɛn.tʃər.ɪ.zəm/
  • Literature
translation icon : aventurismo
  • Imagine how the Founders' concerns about federal tyranny and military adventurism must have seemed to Lincoln and the Reconstruction Republicans.
  • Soviet adventurism
  • military adventurism
  • sexual adventurism

Examples

  • Moreover, Israel would pay a heavy diplomatic price for what would no doubt be termed its "reckless adventurism."

    Academic text (2010)
  • As a result of its oil mismanagement and foolhardy military adventurism, the country became a basket case.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Finally, the region's governments learned early on not only that the potential benefits of foreign-policy adventurism were high but that the constraints were soft.

    Academic text (1995)
  • The former concerned political and strategic issues relating to regional stability and the containment of Soviet adventurism in the Pacific.

    Academic text (1991)
  • I don't have any problems with funding federal defense when it's defense, and not military adventurism, imperial invasion, or warmongering.

    Blog text (31)
  • To the Founders, a standing army posed a threat of both tyranny and ruinous military adventurism.

    Academic text (2000)
  • U.S. mobilization potential and economic capacity were the great deterrent against Soviet adventurism, according to Mueller, not nuclear weapons.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Migration had not been mere adventurism, but a dismayed escape from a nation whose elites had repeatedly betrayed the people.

    Academic text (2016)
  • Zimbabwe's military adventurism in the Congo has also caused discord and friction in the fourteen-member SADC.

    Academic text (2002)
  • The politician's reckless adventurism led to widespread public unrest.

Synonyms

boldness
vsadventurism
9 3.2

Willingness to take risks and face danger

tends to be rash and less thoughtful in high stakes situations
brazenness
vsadventurism
2 7.3

Shameless boldness that ignores what people consider proper

emphasizes risky, unplanned choices rather than shameless defiance
rashness
vsadventurism
1 5.6

Acting or speaking quickly without thinking about the bad results

adds political or high stakes context and emphasizes unplanned action
daringness
vsadventurism
1 3.8

Being brave and willing to take risks

leans toward risky, unplanned choices in important affairs
daredeviltry
vsadventurism
9.1

Bold, dangerous actions done without care for safety

focuses on risky unplanned choices in important affairs
daredevilry
vsadventurism
8.8

Very bold acts that risk serious harm

is about risky decisions in serious contexts rather than thrill seeking

Antonyms

158 2.5

Care that helps you avoid danger or mistakes

14 5.6

A practical way of solving problems that focuses on what works

How Risky

recklessness
18 5.2
adventurism
  • Literature
3 7.9
riskiness
1 4.5
boldness
9 3.2

Surface Forms

adventurism singular
adventurisms plural

Morphology

adventurism = adventure (semi-transparent) = adventure + ism

The word is built from 'adventure' + '-ism', but the political or behavioral sense is a specialized extension rather than a fully literal composition.

Etymology

Adventurism comes from adventure, which means a 'risky or exciting journey', plus the ending -ism, which shows a 'habit' or 'way of acting'. So adventurism is the habit of taking bold, risky (often reckless) actions, especially in politics or big decisions.