audacity

noun

au·​dac·​i·​ty ȯ-ˈda-sə-tē How to pronounce audacity (audio)
plural audacities
1
: the quality or state of being audacious: such as
a
: intrepid boldness
knights admired for their audacity
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
Choose the Right Synonym for audacity

temerity, audacity, hardihood, effrontery, nerve, cheek, gall, chutzpah mean conspicuous or flagrant boldness.

temerity suggests boldness arising from rashness and contempt of danger.

had the temerity to refuse

audacity implies a disregard of restraints commonly imposed by convention or prudence.

an entrepreneur with audacity and vision

hardihood suggests firmness in daring and defiance.

admired for her hardihood

effrontery implies shameless, insolent disregard of propriety or courtesy.

outraged at his effrontery

nerve, cheek, gall, and chutzpah are informal equivalents for effrontery.

the nerve of that guy
has the cheek to call herself a singer
had the gall to demand proof
the chutzpah needed for a career in show business

Examples of audacity in a Sentence

I could not believe their audacity. He had the audacity to suggest that it was all my fault.
Recent Examples on the Web The Oscars may be an annual reminder of the power of storytelling, purposeful vision casting and the audacity of creativity. Sherzod Odilov, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 This aim is foreign in the history of human experience, as is the audacity to even ask the question. David L. Bahnsen, National Review, 5 Feb. 2024 Now Heitz sought to bring speed – up to 75mph (120km/h) – and style to a sport that once impressed through sheer audacity. Carolyn Wells, Longreads, 1 Feb. 2024 And then, just when One Day finally starts to pay off all that waiting and longing, the series has the audacity to end. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Feb. 2024 Yet the Jets won that game against the Colts in Miami, 16-7, behind an upstart quarterback named Joe Namath, who had the audacity to personally guarantee a New York win before the game. Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 29 Jan. 2024 Ozon goes back almost 100 years to spoof #MeToo audacity — whether the Christine Blasey Ford accusations, the Harvey Weinstein trials, or the current persecution of actor Gérard Depardieu in France. Armond White, National Review, 26 Jan. 2024 Miller masterfully shares the story of enslaved people, their brave and bold audacity to live a free and harmonious life, and a time and place hidden in American history. Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 22 Jan. 2024 Decade by decade, Degas remained so original, so commanding, and at times quite breathtaking in his audacity. Sam Needleman, The New York Review of Books, 6 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'audacity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English audacite, borrowed from Medieval Latin audācitāt-, audācitās, from Latin audāc-, audāx "daring, bold, excessively daring, reckless" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at audacious

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of audacity was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near audacity

Cite this Entry

“Audacity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/audacity. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

audacity

noun
au·​dac·​i·​ty ȯ-ˈdas-ət-ē How to pronounce audacity (audio)
plural audacities
: the quality or fact of being audacious

More from Merriam-Webster on audacity

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