brassy

adjective

ˈbra-sē 

brassier; brassiest

1

a

: shamelessly bold

a brassy reporter

b

: obstreperous

2

: resembling brass especially in color

3

: resembling the sound of a brass instrument

brassily

ˈbra-sə-lē 

adverb

brassiness

ˈbra-sē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• arch
• audacious
• bold
• bold-faced
• brash
• brassbound
• brazen
• brazen-faced
• cheeky
• cocksure
• cocky
• fresh
• impertinent
• impudent
• insolent
• nervy
• sassy
• saucy
• wise

Examples of brassy in a Sentence

a brassy customer insisted on arriving late and still being taken first

Recent Examples on the Web

Oh, and purple toothpaste — based on the same color theory concept that violet neutralizes yellowish, brassy tones — is becoming a thing. —Karina Hoshikawa, refinery29.com, 1 Oct. 2024

If your hair is darker, lemon juice may bring out brassy tones or do nothing at all. —Laura Dorwart, Verywell Health, 27 Sep. 2024

This is a man on the upswing, and he’s carried to Philadelphia on the strength of Daniel Blumberg’s throbbing score, which pivots between industrial percussion and brassy jazz horns with the force of a twin-piston engine. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 1 Sep. 2024

Early on, Jacobs’s music even welcomes Christian rock into the soundscape, mixing it with American folk and brassy pop. —Brittani Samuel, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

brassy

adjective

ˈbras-ē 

brassier; brassiest

1

a

: shamelessly bold

b

: unruly

2

: resembling brass especially in color

3

: resembling the sound of a brass instrument

brassily

ˈbras-ə-lē 

adverb

brassiness

ˈbras-ē-nəs 

noun