brazen

1 of 2

adjective

bra·​zen ˈbrā-zᵊn 

1

: made of brass

drinking from brazen cups

2

a

: sounding harsh and loud like struck brass

the horrible brazen voice of the fire bell

—Elmer Davis

b

: of the color of polished brass

3

: marked by shameless or disrespectful boldness

a brazen disregard for the rules

brazenly adverb

brazenness

ˈbrā-zᵊn-(n)əs 

noun

brazen

2 of 2

verb

brazened; brazening

ˈbrāz-niŋ,

ˈbrā-zᵊn-iŋ 

transitive verb

: to face with defiance or impudence

—usually used in the phrase brazen it out

Synonyms

Adjective

• bold
• impudent
• wise
• insolent
• audacious
• fresh
• cheeky
• cocky
• defiant
• blunt
• brassy
• sassy
• saucy
• brash
• cocksure
• assertive
• impertinent
• brazen-faced

Verb

• confront
• face
• brave

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

Adjective

The parent company of Denver’s Hyde Park Jewelers still declines to discuss what happened and the Denver Police Department still refuses to release its reports, photos and videos from the brazen burglary, because its investigation is still open. —Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025

But the mob was discreet compared to Trump’s brazen, boastful ways. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2025

The three men are accused of carrying out a brazen robbery of a Brink’s armored car on June 21 in Philadelphia's Port Richmond neighborhood. —Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025

Then there's the more ambient forms of social disorder: homeless encampments that pop up and spread, a noticeable increase in crazy people roaming the subways, brazen shoplifting and farebeating, street takeovers, etc. Democrats and the left like to focus on the former at the expense of the latter. —Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025

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

Phrases Containing brazen

• brazen-faced
• brazen it out

Rhymes for brazen

• blazon
• hazan
• zazen
• malmaison

Kids Definition

brazen

1 of 2 adjective

bra·​zen ˈbrāz-ᵊn 

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

ˈbrāz-ᵊn-(n)əs 

noun

brazen

2 of 2 verb

brazened; brazening ˈbrāz-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

: to face boldly or defiantly

an enemy who'd rather brazen it out than surrender