audacity

au·dac·i·ty

noun \ȯ-ˈda-sə-tē\

plural au·dac·i·ties

Definition of AUDACITY

1

: the quality or state of being audacious: as

a : intrepid boldness

b : bold or arrogant disregard of normal restraints <had the audacity to defy his boss>

2

: an audacious act —usually used in plural <her worst audacities did not seem to surprise him — Edith Wharton>

Examples of AUDACITY

1. I could not believe their audacity.
2. He had the audacity to suggest that it was all my fault.

Origin of AUDACITY

Middle English audacite, from Latin audac-, audax

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to AUDACITY

Synonyms

audaciousness, effrontery, brashness, brass, brassiness, brazenness, cheek, cheekiness, chutzpah (also chutzpa or hutzpah or hutzpa), crust, face, gall, nerve, nerviness, pertness, presumption, presumptuousness, sauce, sauciness, temerity

Related Words

arrogance, assurance, cockiness, confidence, hardihood, overconfidence, sanguinity, self-assurance, self-confidence; discourteousness, disrespect, impertinence, impoliteness, impudence, incivility, inconsiderateness, inconsideration, insolence, rudeness, ungraciousness; back talk, sass; swagger, swash

Near Antonyms

bashfulness, diffidence, faintheartedness, hesitancy, modesty, shyness, timidity, timidness, timorousness; civility, courteousness, courtesy, gentility, graciousness, mannerliness, manners

See Synonym Discussion at temerity

Rhymes with AUDACITY

capacity, edacity, fugacity, loquacity, mendacity, opacity, predacity, pugnacity, rapacity, sagacity, sequacity, tenacity, veracity, vivacity, voracity