as in gall
shameless boldness
for sheer brashness it would be hard to beat the customer who wanted a refund on merchandise bought elsewhere
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Recent Examples of brashness
For all his brashness, intensity and unyielding quest for detailed excellence, his presence is far from the detached authoritarian persona of the man who coached him in New England, six-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick.
—
Michael Silver, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
In recent years, Ye’s irreverence and brashness shifted into something darker and far more dangerous.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026
Given his father’s reputation for brashness, many people told me they were surprised by how nice David is.
—Reeves Wiedeman, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2026
Intrigued by the letter’s brashness, Steve Rifkin, whose Loud Records handled clients including Wu-Tang Clan and Akon, hired the teenager.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
Unfortunately, the austerity and elegance of the downstairs dining room acts as a dampener, hushing the salad’s brashness and sapping much of the fun.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2025
Macelaru and pianist Grimaud seem to glory in the brashness of them.
—David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Oct. 2025
Michael Silver, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
In recent years, Ye’s irreverence and brashness shifted into something darker and far more dangerous.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026
Given his father’s reputation for brashness, many people told me they were surprised by how nice David is.
—Reeves Wiedeman, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2026
Intrigued by the letter’s brashness, Steve Rifkin, whose Loud Records handled clients including Wu-Tang Clan and Akon, hired the teenager.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
Unfortunately, the austerity and elegance of the downstairs dining room acts as a dampener, hushing the salad’s brashness and sapping much of the fun.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2025
Macelaru and pianist Grimaud seem to glory in the brashness of them.
—David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brashness
Noun
-
Imagine having the gall to besmirch the name of a young mother killed for trying to speak up for her neighbors or of an ICU nurse shot in the back for trying to tend to a woman who had been pepper-sprayed in the face.—
Sasha Abramsky,
Washington Post,
2 Feb. 2026
-
The documents that Dooley was now handling were barely yellowed, their edges lightly frayed, the oak gall ink ranging from brown to black.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There, Linda lies in the sand, attempting the breath work that's meant to calm her nerves.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Stocks have been jolted by nerves about the Middle East conflict disrupting the global flow of oil and reigniting inflation at a time when the US labor market appears to be on shaky ground.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Too few compliments make kids feel slighted, while too many can inspire arrogance.—
Wayne Parker,
Parents,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Adam McKay’s toxically smug dissection of Dick Cheney fails to take the full measure of this monstrous vice-president, but even so, Bale taps into something elemental about the man’s arrogance and domineering personality.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Her gleeful cruelty was matched only by the audacity of her incompetence.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Marty Supreme, on which Ronald was a writer and producer as well as the editor, burst onto the awards-season scene in the fall with an arms-outstretched audacity that would make its would-be ping-pong-champ protagonist proud.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Your confidence is boosted by Love Goddess Venus sextiling powerful Pluto — and with Venus in your sign, that boost is even stronger.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Your quick mind spots what to improve, and your confidence helps others get on board.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The concern is not only the surge in killings, but the increasing brazenness with which they are carried out.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Glaser herself appeared somewhat cowed by her own brazenness — which turned out to be the setup for another bit.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brashness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brashness. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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