brazen

1 of 2

adjective

bra·​zen ˈbrā-zᵊn How to pronounce brazen (audio)
1
: made of brass
drinking from brazen cups
2
a
: sounding harsh and loud like struck brass
the horrible brazen voice of the fire bellElmer Davis
b
: of the color of polished brass
3
: marked by shameless or disrespectful boldness
a brazen disregard for the rules
brazenly adverb
brazenness noun

brazen

2 of 2

verb

brazened; brazening
ˈbrāz-niŋ,
ˈbrā-zᵊn-iŋ How to pronounce brazen (audio)

transitive verb

: to face with defiance or impudence
usually used in the phrase brazen it out

Examples of brazen in a Sentence

Adjective He exhibited a brazen disregard for other people's feelings. a brazen demand for special treatment just because she's rich Verb a filmmaker willing to brazen the criticism that such a violent film was sure to provoke
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Dozens of investigators have been involved in chasing down at least four suspects who targeted the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery in a brazen daylight raid, fleeing with jewelry worth tens of millions in a matter of minutes. Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025 Multiple suspects have been arrested in connection with the brazen heist of crown jewels from the Louvre museum in Paris, a week after thieves stole millions of dollars worth of historic jewelry, the Paris prosecutor’s office said. Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025 The brazen daytime heist at the museum last Sunday stunned France, when four men, dressed as workmen, broke in through an upper floor window using a ladder on a moving truck. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 26 Oct. 2025 The brazen heist a week ago shocked France and captivated art lovers worldwide. Rebecca Schneid, Time, 26 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for brazen

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb

Middle English brasen, from Old English bræsen, from bræs brass

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1555, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of brazen was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Brazen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brazen. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

brazen

1 of 2 adjective
bra·​zen ˈbrāz-ᵊn How to pronounce brazen (audio)
1
: made of brass
2
: sounding harsh and loud like struck brass
3
: not ashamed of or embarrassed by one's bad behavior : impudent
4
: of the color of polished brass
brazenly adverb
brazenness noun

brazen

2 of 2 verb
brazened; brazening ˈbrāz-niŋ How to pronounce brazen (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ
: to face boldly or defiantly
an enemy who'd rather brazen it out than surrender

More from Merriam-Webster on brazen

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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