chutzpah

noun

chutz·​pah ˈhu̇t-spə How to pronounce chutzpah (audio) ˈḵu̇t- How to pronounce chutzpah (audio)
-(ˌ)spä
variants or less commonly chutzpa or hutzpah or hutzpa
: supreme self-confidence : nerve, gall
It took a lot of chutzpah to stand up to him the way she did.

Did you know?

The word chutzpah has been boldly circulating through English since the mid-1800s. It comes from the Yiddish word khutspe, which comes in turn from the Hebrew word ḥuṣpāh. The ch in chutzpah indicates a rasping sound from the back of the throat that exists in many languages, including Yiddish. That sound is not part of English phonology, so it follows that the c is sometimes dropped in both the pronunciation and spelling of the word. Some speakers of Yiddish feel that chutzpah has been diluted in English use, no longer properly conveying the monumental nature of the gall that is implied. A classic example can be found in Leo Rosten’s 1968 book The Joys of Yiddish, which defines chutzpah as “that quality enshrined in a man who, having killed his mother and father, throws himself on the mercy of the court because he is an orphan.”

Choose the Right Synonym for chutzpah

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 chutzpah in a Sentence

had the chutzpah to demand that he be treated as a special case and be given priority in settling his insurance claim
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.
History is full of people who practiced tasteful chutzpah at scale. Julia Korn, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025 Fortunately, Kiari underscores Offset’s critical gifts, tapping into his chutzpah while demonstrating even more growth. Will Dukes, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025 And that gives a government body the chutzpah to pass legislation levying $1.50 tax on every online purchase delivered except for groceries and pharmaceuticals. Paul Miller, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2025 That is what makes Operation Spiderweb such a breathtaking combination of chutzpah and expertise. Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 8 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for chutzpah

Word History

Etymology

Yiddish khutspe, from Late Hebrew ḥuṣpāh

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chutzpah was in 1867

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Cite this Entry

“Chutzpah.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chutzpah. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

chutzpah

noun
chutz·​pah
variants also chutzpa or hutzpah or hutzpa
ˈhu̇t-spə How to pronounce chutzpah (audio)
ˈḵu̇t-,
-(ˌ)spä
Etymology

Yiddish; of Hebrew origin

More from Merriam-Webster on chutzpah

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