swashbucklers
Flamboyant sword fighters
Swashbucklers are daring, romantic adventurers—sword-fighting heroes of the kind found in pirate tales and historical adventure stories.
The term evokes flamboyant bravery, cape-swirling swordplay, and gallant rescues: Errol Flynn made his name playing swashbucklers.
By extension, anyone bold and theatrically daring might be called a swashbuckler.
Boldness before danger
- audacityBrazen, reckless daring
- boldnessFearless readiness to act
- fearlessnessComplete lack of dread
- intrepidityFearless courage
derring-do · daredevil · reckless · pluck · nerve · guts · courage · venturesomeness
Caribbean colonial-era pirate
- corsairPirate or pirate ship
- cutlassCurved slashing naval blade
- galleonLarge historical sailing ship
- plunderGoods seized violently
treasure · Jolly Roger · doubloon · brigantine · sloop · Caribbean · Blackbeard · marooned
Seeking journey for something
- treasure huntGame seeking hidden prizes
- high seasWaters beyond jurisdiction
- escapadeReckless, exciting adventure
- exploitNotable act or abuse
perilous · dashing · rescue · damsel · villain · narrow escape · cliffhanger · romance
Prearranged one-on-one combat
- fencingCombat with blunted blades
- rapierSlender dueling blade
- parryDefensive blade deflection
- thrustForceful forward motion
riposte · blade · épée · saber · lunge · en garde · foil · crossed swords
Pleasantly attractive in manner
- debonairSophisticated and carefree
- rakishDashingly unconventional in style
- dapperNeatly and stylishly dressed
- wittyCleverly humorous
mischievous · rascal · scoundrel · rapscallion · knave · rogue · sly · cunning
Pretense of fearlessness
- strutProud, showy gait
- flourishTo grow vigorously
- panacheFlamboyant confidence of manner
- showmanshipSkill at impressive presentation
boastful · cocky · theatrical · flamboyant · grandiose · ostentatious · bluster · braggadocio
bravery
Boldness before danger
- audacityBrazen, reckless daring
- boldnessFearless readiness to act
- fearlessnessComplete lack of dread
intrepidity · derring-do · daredevil · reckless · pluck · nerve · guts · courage · venturesomeness · undaunted
buccaneer
Caribbean colonial-era pirate
plunder · treasure · Jolly Roger · doubloon · brigantine · sloop · Caribbean · Blackbeard · marooned · mutiny
quest
Seeking journey for something
- treasure huntGame seeking hidden prizes
- high seasWaters beyond jurisdiction
- escapadeReckless, exciting adventure
exploit · perilous · dashing · rescue · damsel · villain · narrow escape · cliffhanger · romance · intrigue
duel
Prearranged one-on-one combat
thrust · riposte · blade · épée · saber · lunge · en garde · foil · crossed swords · swordplay
charming
Pleasantly attractive in manner
- debonairSophisticated and carefree
- rakishDashingly unconventional in style
- dapperNeatly and stylishly dressed
witty · mischievous · rascal · scoundrel · rapscallion · knave · rogue · sly · cunning · impish
bravado
Pretense of fearlessness
showmanship · boastful · cocky · theatrical · flamboyant · grandiose · ostentatious · bluster · braggadocio · peacocking
- Piratespirate, buccaneer, corsair, corsairs, privateers
- Adventure BooksTreasure Island, Robinson Crusoe, The Hobbit, Hatchet, Swiss Family Robinson
- Adventurersexplorers, adventurers, pioneers, trailblazers, pathfinders
- popular fictionbestsellers, genre fiction, page-turners, popular novels, pulp fiction
- swashbucklerspirate, pirates, buccaneer, buccaneers, corsair
- piracysoftware piracy, pirates, torrents, book piracy, buccaneers
swashbucklerscowards
Those lacking courage
wallflowers · milquetoasts · shrinking violets · fence-sitters · homebodies
swashbucklersassassins
Killers of important people
poisoners · backstabbers · snipers · ambushers · foot soldiers
swashbucklershomebodies
People preferring domestic life
accountants · clerks · bureaucrats · pencil-pushers · settlers