Dashing — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈda-shiŋ/ dash·ing

Meaning & Definition of Dashing

Dashing (adjective)

  1. marked by vigorous action, spirited
  2. marked by smartness especially in dress and manners

Dashing (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. inclined or willing to take risks

    "the dashing heroes in stories about the American West"

    similar: adventuresome, adventurous, audacious, bold, daring, emboldened, enterprising, free-swinging, gutsy, hardy, nerved, nervy, venturesome, venturous
    related: brash, daredevil, foolhardy, heedless, hotheaded, impetuous, imprudent, impulsive, incautious, madcap, overbold, overconfident, rash, reckless, thoughtless, wild, brave, courageous, dauntless, fearless, gallant, greathearted, heroic, intrepid, lionhearted, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, swashbuckling, unafraid, undaunted, valiant, valorous, gritty, plucky, spirited, spunky, gadarene, hasty, headlong, precipitate, absurd, asinine, balmy, brainless, crazy, foolish, half-witted, harebrained, insane, lunatic (informal), mad, nutty, scatterbrained, silly, wacky, witless, unnecessary, dumb, idiotic, moronic, stupid, irrational, unreasonable
    opposite: unadventurous, unenterprising
    near: chickenhearted, coward, cowardly, craven, lily-livered, milk-livered, milky, poltroon, pusillanimous, shy, timid, timorous, careful, cautious, heedful, prudent, wary, overcareful, overcautious, affrighted, afraid, alarmed, fainthearted, fearful, frightened, horrified, scared, shocked, spooked, startled, terrified, terrorized, unnerved, calm, cool, levelheaded, rational, reasonable, sage, sane, sensible, sound, wise, appalled, concerned, dismayed, upset, worried

Dashing (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to go at a pace faster than a walk

    "one sprinter dashed to the finish line in record-breaking time"

    similar: galloping, jogging, running, scampering, sprinting, tripping, trotting
    related: bounding, cantering, leaping, loping, shagging, skipping, springing, barreling, belting, blasting, blazing, blowing, bolting, bombing (slang), bowling, breezing, bustling, buzzing, cannonballing, careening, coursing, footing (it), haring, hastening, hoofing (it), hotfooting (it), humping, hurling, hurrying, hurtling, hustling, hying, jetting, legging (it), pelting, racing, ramming, ripping, rocketing, rushing, rustling, shooting, speeding, tearing, whirling, whisking, zipping, zooming, nipping, pattering, scooting, scurrying, scuttling, stepping (along)
    near: ambling, sauntering, shambling, shuffling, strolling, crawling, creeping, dallying, dawdling, dillydallying, dragging, lagging, lingering, loitering, poking, tarrying, lumbering, plodding, trudging, hobbling, limping

  2. to proceed or move quickly

    "we dashed about in a panic, trying to get everything organized before the guests were scheduled to arrive"

    similar: barreling, belting, blasting, blazing, blowing, bolting, bombing (slang), bowling, breezing, bundling, bustling, buzzing, cannonballing, careening, careering, chasing, coursing, cracking (on), driving, flying, haring, hastening, highballing, hotfooting (it), humping, hurling, hurrying, hurtling, hustling, hying, jetting, jumping, motoring, nipping, pelting, racing, ramming, ripping, rocketing, running, rushing, rustling, scooting, scurrying, scuttling, shooting, speeding, stepping, tearing, traveling, trotting, whirling, whisking, zipping, zooming, beating it, getting a move on, making tracks, shaking a leg, stepping on it
    related: beetling, darting, flitting, scampering, scudding, scuffling, stampeding, streaking, whizzing, galloping, jogging, sprinting, accelerating, quickening, stepping out, catching up, fast-forwarding, outpacing, outrunning, outstripping, overtaking, arrowing, beelining
    opposite: crawling, creeping, poking
    near: dallying, dawdling, dillydallying, dragging, hanging (around or out), lagging, lingering, loitering, poking, tarrying, ambling, lumbering, plodding, sauntering, shuffling, strolling, decelerating, slowing (down or up)

  3. to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm

    "she dashed water in his face in an attempt to wake him up"

    similar: casting, catapulting, chucking, firing, flinging, heaving, hurling, hurtling, launching, lobbing, lofting, pegging, pelting, pitching, slinging, throwing, tossing, letting fly
    related: bowling, darting, flipping, gunning, hooking, passing, rolling, shooting, bucking, ejecting, impelling, precipitating, projecting, propelling, rifling, thrusting

  4. to wet or soil by striking with something liquid or mushy

    "our clothes were dashed with the mud of passing cars"

    similar: bespattering, plashing, spattering, splashing, splattering
    related: drenching, drowning, impregnating, saturating, soaking, sopping, sousing, steeping, bathing, dousing, washing, watering, slopping, slushing, spraying, sprinkling, squirting

  5. to cause (something liquid or mushy) to move along in sheets

    "a sudden jolt dashed the hot coffee onto the driver's lap"

    similar: slopping, sloshing, spattering, splashing, swashing
    related: dabbling, lapping, plashing, washing, spraying, sprinkling, spritzing, squirting

  6. to make sad

    "she's always dashed by the failure of her matchmaking efforts"

    similar: bumming (out), burdening, dejecting, depressing, getting down, oppressing, saddening, weighing down
    related: ailing, distressing, troubling, afflicting, tormenting, torturing, daunting, demoralizing, discouraging, disheartening, dismaying, dispiriting, unnerving, agitating, bothering, concerning, discomforting, discomposing, disquieting, disturbing, exercising, freaking (out), perturbing, undoing, unhinging, unsettling, upsetting, worrying
    opposite: brightening, buoying, cheering (up), gladdening, lightening, rejoicing
    near: animating, enlivening, invigorating, assuring, comforting, consoling, reassuring, solacing, soothing, exciting, inspiring, stimulating, elating, exhilarating, encouraging, heartening, delighting, gratifying, pleasing, boosting, elevating, lifting, uplifting

Related Entry: Dash (verb)

Dash is a different word from Dashing. The synonyms below are for dash, not for dashing.

  1. to go at a pace faster than a walk

    "one sprinter dashed to the finish line in record-breaking time"

    similar: gallop, jog, run, scamper, sprint, trip, trot
    related: bound, canter, leap, lope, shag, skip, spring, barrel, belt, blast, blaze, blow, bolt, bomb (slang), bowl, breeze, bustle, buzz, cannonball, careen, course, foot (it), hare, hasten, hie, hoof (it), hotfoot (it), hump, hurl, hurry, hurtle, hustle, jet, leg (it), pelt, race, ram, rip, rocket, rush, rustle, shoot, speed, tear, whirl, whisk, zip, zoom, nip, patter, scoot, scurry, scuttle, step (along)
    near: amble, saunter, shamble, shuffle, stroll, crawl, creep, dally, dawdle, dillydally, drag, lag, linger, loiter, poke, tarry, lumber, plod, trudge, hobble, limp

  2. to proceed or move quickly

    "we dashed about in a panic, trying to get everything organized before the guests were scheduled to arrive"

    similar: barrel, belt, blast, blaze, blow, bolt, bomb (slang), bowl, breeze, bundle, bustle, buzz, cannonball, careen, career, chase, course, crack (on), drive, fly, hare, hasten, hie, highball, hotfoot (it), hump, hurl, hurry, hurtle, hustle, jet, jump, motor, nip, pelt, race, ram, rip, rocket, run, rush, rustle, scoot, scurry, scuttle, shoot, speed, step, tear, travel, trot, whirl, whisk, zip, zoom, beat it, get a move on, make tracks, shake a leg, step on it
    related: beetle, dart, flit, scamper, scud, scuffle, stampede, streak, whiz, gallop, jog, sprint, accelerate, quicken, step out, catch up, fast-forward, outpace, outrun, outstrip, overtake, arrow, beeline
    opposite: crawl, creep, poke
    near: dally, dawdle, dillydally, drag, hang (around or out), lag, linger, loiter, poke, tarry, amble, lumber, plod, saunter, shuffle, stroll, decelerate, slow (down or up)

  3. to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm

    "she dashed water in his face in an attempt to wake him up"

    similar: cast, catapult, chuck, fire, fling, heave, hurl, hurtle, launch, lob, loft, peg, pelt, pitch, sling, throw, toss, let fly
    related: bowl, dart, flip, gun, hook, pass, roll, shoot, buck, eject, impel, precipitate, project, propel, rifle, thrust

  4. to wet or soil by striking with something liquid or mushy

    "our clothes were dashed with the mud of passing cars"

    similar: bespatter, plash, spatter, splash, splatter
    related: drench, drown, impregnate, saturate, soak, sop, souse, steep, bathe, douse, wash, water, slop, slush, spray, sprinkle, squirt

  5. to cause (something liquid or mushy) to move along in sheets

    "a sudden jolt dashed the hot coffee onto the driver's lap"

    similar: slop, slosh, spatter, splash, swash
    related: dabble, lap, plash, wash, spray, sprinkle, spritz, squirt

  6. to make sad

    "she's always dashed by the failure of her matchmaking efforts"

    similar: bum (out), burden, deject, depress, get down, oppress, sadden, weigh down
    related: ail, distress, trouble, afflict, torment, torture, daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dismay, dispirit, unnerve, agitate, bother, concern, discomfort, discompose, disquiet, disturb, exercise, freak (out), perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, worry
    opposite: brighten, buoy, cheer (up), gladden, lighten, rejoice
    near: animate, enliven, invigorate, assure, comfort, console, reassure, solace, soothe, excite, inspire, stimulate, elate, exhilarate, encourage, hearten, delight, gratify, please, boost, elevate, lift, uplift

Related Entry: Dashing (off) (verb)

Dashing (off) is a different word from Dashing. The synonyms below are for dashing (off), not for dashing.

  1. as in cobbling (together or up)

    similar: cobbling (together or up), concocting, contriving, cooking (up), devising, fabricating, hatching, inventing, making up, manufacturing, thinking (up), ad-libbing, clapping (together or up), extemporizing, faking, improvising
    opposite: arranging, laying, preparing, readying, considering, contemplating, pondering, studying, exercising, practicing, rehearsing

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Dashing

The most common words with a similar meaning to Dashing:

Slang: bombing
adventuresome, adventurous, audacious, bold, daring, emboldened, enterprising, free-swinging, gutsy, hardy, nerved, nervy, venturesome, venturous, galloping, jogging, running, scampering, sprinting, tripping, trotting, barreling, belting, blasting, blazing, blowing, bolting, bowling, breezing, bundling, bustling, buzzing, cannonballing, careening, careering, chasing, coursing, cracking (on), driving, flying

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Dashing

Words with the opposite meaning of Dashing:

unadventurous, unenterprising, crawling, creeping, poking, brightening, buoying, cheering (up), gladdening, lightening, rejoicing

Related Words for Dashing

brash, daredevil, foolhardy, heedless, hotheaded, impetuous, imprudent, impulsive, incautious, madcap, overbold, overconfident, rash, reckless, thoughtless, wild, brave, courageous, dauntless, fearless, gallant, greathearted, heroic, intrepid, lionhearted, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, swashbuckling, unafraid

Near Antonyms of Dashing

chickenhearted, coward, cowardly, craven, lily-livered, milk-livered, milky, poltroon, pusillanimous, shy, timid, timorous, careful, cautious, heedful, prudent, wary, overcareful, overcautious, affrighted, afraid, alarmed, fainthearted, fearful, frightened, horrified, scared, shocked, spooked, startled

Word Forms of Dashing

Derived words: dashingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Dashing

First known use: circa 1697

Frequently Asked Questions about Dashing

What does "Dashing" mean?

"Dashing" means marked by vigorous action, spirited. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: marked by vigorous action, spirited. It has 7 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Dashing"?

Other words for "Dashing" include adventuresome, adventurous, audacious, bold, daring, emboldened, enterprising and free-swinging. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Dashing" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Dashing"?

There are 265 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Dashing". Common alternatives include adventuresome, adventurous, audacious, bold, daring, emboldened, enterprising, free-swinging, gutsy and hardy.

What is the opposite of "Dashing"?

Antonyms of "Dashing" include unadventurous, unenterprising, crawling, creeping, poking, brightening, buoying and cheering (up). Near antonyms include chickenhearted, coward, cowardly and craven.

How do you use "Dashing" in a sentence?

Examples of "Dashing" in a sentence: "the dashing heroes in stories about the American West"; "one sprinter dashed to the finish line in record-breaking time"; "we dashed about in a panic, trying to get everything organized before the guests were scheduled to arrive".

Is "Dashing" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Dashing" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Dashing"?

"Dashing" is pronounced /ˈda-shiŋ/ and divided into syllables as dash·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Dashing"?

First known use: circa 1697.