audacity

noun

au·dac·i·ty | \ ȯ-ˈda-sə-tē

plural audacities

Definition of audacity

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

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about audacity

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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

Eclecticism was the collection’s virtue—and its audacity. — Nicole Phelps, Vogue, "The Top 12 Shows of Paris Fashion Week Fall 2019," 6 Mar. 2019 For Pinterest and Zoom Video, braving the public waters may be less an act of audacity than an act of necessity. — Dan Gallagher, WSJ, "Pinterest and Zoom Aim to Jump In, Not Overboard," 18 Apr. 2019 The drawings from that book reprinted here pay overt homage to the style of the period, but even more to the audacity of its artists to subversively — often savagely — lampoon their targets while still leaving them laughing and wanting more. — Steven Heller, New York Times, "Tom Wolfe’s Lesser Known Career as a Cartoonist," 6 July 2018 This terrifying tale has the audacity to take place in broad daylight in the backwoods of a rural Kentucky town caught in the crosshairs of the opioid epidemic. — Kellee Terrell, Harper's BAZAAR, "Jen McGowan's Feminist Horror Rust Creek Is Exactly What Hollywood Needs Right Now," 22 Jan. 2019 Emblematic of their audacity was Park Briar, a 150-unit building in Queens. — Susanne Craig, The Seattle Times, "Trump engaged in suspect tax schemes as he reaped riches from father," 2 Oct. 2018 First half: After the electric scenes inside and outside the game before kick off, the first 20 minutes were something of a disappointment, as Roma controlled the tempo and even had the audacity to take shots. — SI.com, "Twitter Bows Down As Mohamed Salah Produces One of the Great Champions League Performances vs Roma," 24 Apr. 2018 Born of Thomas Alva Edison’s ingenuity and John Pierpont Morgan’s audacity, GE built the dynamos that generated the electricity, the wires that carried it and the lightbulbs that burned it. — Thomas Gryta And Ted Mann, WSJ, "GE Powered the American Century—Then It Burned Out," 14 Dec. 2018 Someone had the audacity to attempt to smuggle 70 finches hidden inside hair rollers onto a flight from Georgetown, Guyana, to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. — Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, "Customs Officials Seize 70 Finches Crammed into Hair Rollers at John F. Kennedy Airport," 13 Dec. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'audacity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.