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

That reads like most other primers' marketing copy, but the color's audacity pulled me in. — Rachel Nussbaum, Glamour, "This Black Primer Works Like Magic on Your Skin," 24 Sep. 2018 Israelis often identify themselves with the sabra, the cactus fruit that has a prickly exterior and a soft interior and pride themselves on their frankness and shameless audacity. — Ruth Eglash, The Seattle Times, "Monica Lewinsky walks off the stage at a Jerusalem conference when asked about Bill Clinton," 4 Sep. 2018 This is a film with the audacity to turn the color of a puppet’s pubic hair into a pivotal plot point. — Bryan Bishop, The Verge, "The Happytime Murders tests the limits of subverting nostalgia," 24 Aug. 2018 His style has evolved a ton over his eight years in the NBA, but there's been evidence of audacity from the start. — Devin Gordon, GQ, "James Harden Isn't Playing Around," 12 Apr. 2018 And yet, Trump has set about expanding the powers of his office with a shameless audacity that his predecessor couldn’t match – but that his successor just might. — Eric Levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "A Progressive President Could Accomplish a Lot By Following Trump’s Example," 3 June 2018 This theatrical conceit frames the show marvelously, informing every aspect of it, from the star turn moments for each performer, the crisp production numbers, the colorful costumes and the sheer audacity of Abagnale's exploits. — Theodore P. Mahne, NOLA.com, "JPAS premieres 'Catch Me If You Can,' a criminally enjoyable hit," 17 Apr. 2018 The audacity of Russia’s campaign is striking even now. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, "Truth Without Consequences," 13 July 2018 Instead of Napoleon standing in front of the Pope to crown his own bride—itself a moment of breathtaking audacity—our eye is on Beyoncé's body dancing in front of Josephine's, her own head poised to take on the crown. — Kaitlyn Greenidge, Glamour, "In the Louvre, Beyoncé Proves There's Power in Repurposing Art History," 18 June 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.