Definition of AUDACITY

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

Apparently, she's been upsetting dozens of palace staff members by having the audacity to—gasp—send emails at 5:30 in the morning. — Christopher Rosa, Glamour, "The Meghan Markle 'Duchess Difficult' Rumors Just Won't Stop—and This One Is Bizarre," 12 Apr. 2019 But so were time, dignity, childhoods, selfies, songs and a New Year’s Eve allegedly culminating at Drake’s mansion. Thematic audacity came this close to being a drinking game. — Wesley Morris, New York Times, "‘Atlanta’ Skips a Grade," 11 May 2018 When Paper Boi stands up to walk out of the barbershop, Bibby has the audacity to ask him to pay for his fresh cut. — Lauren Alvarez, Billboard, "'Atlanta' Episode 5 Recap: Paper Boi's Absurd Adventures With His Barber," 30 Mar. 2018 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

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.