maverick

12 synonyms and 5 antonyms for maverick, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A person who thinks and acts independently, refusing to follow the usual rules or conventions of their group.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

rebel eccentric irregular

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

free spirit heteroclite deviant deviate individualist misfit nonconformist offbeat unorthodox

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A person who thinks and acts independently, refusing to follow the usual rules or conventions of their group.

“She was seen as a maverick in the industry, ignoring convention to build her own kind of company.”

rebel eccentric free spirit heteroclite deviant deviate individualist misfit nonconformist offbeat

Opposites

dogmatist formalist pedant stickler traditionalist

2. adj

Independent-minded and unwilling to conform.

“His maverick approach to filmmaking won him both fans and critics.”

irregular unorthodox

How to use maverick

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

a political maverick maverick approach lone maverick

Etymology

Named after Samuel Maverick, a 19th-century Texan rancher and politician who famously refused to brand his cattle, letting them roam unmarked — his name became a word for anyone who won't follow the herd.

Full origin of maverick →

Frequently asked questions

What does “maverick” mean?

The word “maverick” means a person who thinks and acts independently, refusing to follow the usual rules or conventions of their group. In plain terms, someone (or something) that goes their own way instead of following the usual rules.

How do you pronounce “maverick”?

“Maverick” is pronounced MA-vuh-rihk (/ˈmævəɹɪk/ in IPA).

How do you use “maverick” in a sentence?

Here is “maverick” used in a sentence: “She was seen as a maverick in the industry, ignoring convention to build her own kind of company.”

What is another word for “maverick”?

Words with a similar meaning to “maverick” include eccentric, free spirit, heteroclite, deviant, deviate and individualist.

What is the opposite of “maverick”?

The opposite of “maverick” — its antonyms — are dogmatist, formalist, pedant, stickler and traditionalist.

What part of speech is “maverick”?

Depending on how it is used, “maverick” can be a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “maverick” come from?

The word “maverick” dates back to around 1800. Named after Samuel Maverick, a 19th-century Texan rancher and politician who famously refused to brand his cattle, letting them roam unmarked — his name became a word for anyone who won't follow the herd.

Is “maverick” a common word?

“Maverick” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.

People also searched

rebel irregular eccentric unorthodox deviate formalist traditionalist nonconformist misfit stickler deviant dogmatist

Nearby words

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