mavericks
Those bucking convention
Mavericks is the plural of maverick—unbranded cattle, or people who think and act independently, refusing to follow the crowd.
The term suggests admirable nonconformity: The tech industry celebrates its mavericks.
In cattle ranching, mavericks were calves separated from their mothers before branding, fair game for any rancher to claim. (Capitalized Mavericks is the Dallas NBA team or a famous surfing location.)
Authority defier
- iconoclastAttacker of cherished beliefs
- dissenterOpponent of orthodoxy
- free-thinkerOne who reasons independently
- individualistOne who values autonomy
contrarian · outsider · renegade · freethinker · eccentric · bohemian · heretic · unorthodox
Imaginative planner of futures
- pioneerEarly explorer or settler
- trailblazerFirst to forge ahead
- disruptorOne who overturns norms
- inventorCreator of original devices
game-changer · revolutionary · entrepreneur · groundbreaker · innovator · original · creative · breakthrough
Without identifying marks
- cattleDomesticated bovines kept commercially
- rancherOne who raises livestock
- cowboyMounted cattle herder
- steerDirect movement or castrated bull
calf · herd · roundup · range · stockman · branding · Texas · longhorn
Able to provide independently
- autonomousSelf-directed and free
- solitaryExisting alone, apart
- unaffiliatedNot formally connected
- self-madeSuccessful through own efforts
freewheeling · unattached · solo · self-directed · unbeholden · self-sufficient · detached · unaligned
Open resistance to authority
- dissentDisagreement with authority
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- insurgencyArmed uprising against authority
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
mutiny · insurrection · sedition · subversion · uprising · protest · coup · revolution
Adventurous courage
- boldnessFearless readiness to act
- audacityBrazen, reckless daring
- gambleStake on uncertain outcome
- adventureRisky exciting undertaking
bravery · courage · entrepreneurship · pioneering · intrepid · fearlessness · venturesome · thrill-seeking
rebel
Authority defier
- iconoclastAttacker of cherished beliefs
- dissenterOpponent of orthodoxy
- free-thinkerOne who reasons independently
individualist · contrarian · outsider · renegade · freethinker · eccentric · bohemian · heretic · unorthodox · radical
visionary
Imaginative planner of futures
- pioneerEarly explorer or settler
- trailblazerFirst to forge ahead
- disruptorOne who overturns norms
inventor · game-changer · revolutionary · entrepreneur · groundbreaker · innovator · original · creative · breakthrough · cutting-edge
unbranded
Without identifying marks
- cattleDomesticated bovines kept commercially
- rancherOne who raises livestock
- cowboyMounted cattle herder
steer · calf · herd · roundup · range · stockman · branding · Texas · longhorn · rustler
self-reliant
Able to provide independently
- autonomousSelf-directed and free
- solitaryExisting alone, apart
- unaffiliatedNot formally connected
self-made · freewheeling · unattached · solo · self-directed · unbeholden · self-sufficient · detached · unaligned · wildcatter
defiance
Open resistance to authority
- dissentDisagreement with authority
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- insurgencyArmed uprising against authority
revolt · mutiny · insurrection · sedition · subversion · uprising · protest · coup · revolution · anarchy
daring
Adventurous courage
adventure · bravery · courage · entrepreneurship · pioneering · intrepid · fearlessness · venturesome · thrill-seeking · speculation
- cattle ranchingcattle, cattle drive, cattle drives, cattle auctions, cattle branding
- Nonconformistsnonconformist, rebels, rebel, misfits, misfit
- trailblazerstrailblazers, pioneers, innovators, groundbreakers, forerunners
- Disruptiondisruption, creative destruction, paradigm shift, innovation hub, startups
- Iconoclastsheretics, freethinkers, dissidents, radicals, contrarians
- ranchingcattle, ranch, rancher, ranchers, ranching
mavericksconformists
Those obeying social norms
followers · sheep · traditionalists · conventionalists · yes-men
mavericksloyalists
Faithful to established authority
apparatchiks · insiders · stalwarts · conservatives · partisans
- Dallas MavericksTexas pro basketball franchise
- Top Gun Maverick
- Ford MaverickCompact American pickup truck