Synonyms of impertinent

impertinent

adjective

(ˌ)im-ˈpər-tə-nənt 

1

as in wise

displaying or marked by rude boldness

the impertinent child had a smart answer for everything

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wise
• impudent
• insolent
• bold
• brazen
• cocky
• cheeky
• fresh
• saucy
• blunt
• sassy
• defiant
• cocksure
• brassy
• brash
• audacious
• assertive
• nervy
• cute
• brazen-faced
• arch
• bold-faced
• disrespectful
• obtrusive
• smart
• curt
• flippant
• brassbound
• forward
• unblushing
• shameless
• facetious
• unabashed
• bluff
• smart-aleck
• mouthy
• pert
• flip
• smart-alecky
• lippy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• timid
• meek
• shy
• modest
• humble
• polite
• proper
• courteous
• retiring
• genteel
• deferential
• respectful
• mousy
• ashamed
• demure
• mousey
• embarrassed
• mannerly
• mild
• abashed
• gentle
• blushing
• inconspicuous
• unobtrusive
• shamefaced

2

as in rude

showing a lack of manners or consideration for others

impertinent salesmen who telephone people during the dinner hour

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rude
• unmannerly
• disrespectful
• ungracious
• thoughtless
• impolite
• abrupt
• discourteous
• arrogant
• uncivil
• inconsiderate
• uncalled-for
• blunt
• ill-mannered
• impudent
• unmannered
• insolent
• ill-bred
• unhandsome
• curt
• gruff
• improper
• vulgar
• incorrect
• bold
• uncouth
• brazen
• cheeky
• boorish
• churlish
• saucy
• brash
• sassy
• audacious
• shameless
• brusque
• clownish
• loutish
• disagreeable
• brassy
• fresh
• unseemly
• indecorous
• indecent
• supercilious
• surly
• presumptuous
• antisocial
• sullen
• snippy
• haughty
• crusty
• caddish
• arch
• conceited
• bumptious
• pompous
• crabbed
• imperious
• grumpy
• pretentious
• cross
• bold-faced
• peremptory
• lippy
• sharp
• brusk
• superior
• snippety
• high-handed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• polite
• civil
• thoughtful
• gracious
• modest
• genteel
• courteous
• humble
• appropriate
• considerate
• meek
• deferential
• proper
• suitable
• correct
• respectful
• acceptable
• right
• dutiful
• becoming
• good
• respectable
• meet
• submissive
• fitting
• mannerly
• friendly
• genial
• cordial
• well-bred
• hospitable
• decent
• yielding
• affable
• fit
• graceful
• sociable
• gallant
• unassertive
• felicitous
• decorous
• seemly
• courtly
• chivalrous
• befitting
• elegant
• refined
• ceremonious

3

as in irrelevant

not having anything to do with the matter at hand

your résumé needlessly lists skills that are impertinent to the job for which you are applying

Synonyms & Similar Words

• irrelevant
• immaterial
• extraneous
• inappropriate
• inapplicable
• meaningless
• beside the point
• inapposite
• irrelative
• neither here nor there
• tangential
• useless
• incidental
• unimportant
• peripheral
• insignificant
• inane
• inconsequential
• unsuitable
• pointless
• tangent
• moot
• senseless
• dead
• empty
• inapt

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pertinent
• relevant
• relative
• applicable
• important
• pointed
• significant
• apposite
• material
• meaningful
• germane
• apropos
• useful
• appropriate
• sensible
• suitable
• apt
• fit

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective impertinent contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of impertinent are intrusive, meddlesome, obtrusive, and officious. While all these words mean "given to thrusting oneself into the affairs of others," impertinent implies exceeding the bounds of propriety in showing interest or curiosity or in offering advice.

resented their impertinent interference

When can intrusive be used instead of impertinent?

The meanings of intrusive and impertinent largely overlap; however, intrusive implies a tactless or otherwise objectionable thrusting into others' affairs.

tried to be helpful without being intrusive

When would meddlesome be a good substitute for impertinent?

In some situations, the words meddlesome and impertinent are roughly equivalent. However, meddlesome stresses an annoying and usually prying interference in others' affairs.

a meddlesome landlord

In what contexts can obtrusive take the place of impertinent?

The synonyms obtrusive and impertinent are sometimes interchangeable, but obtrusive stresses improper or offensive conspicuousness of interfering actions.

expressed an obtrusive concern for his safety

When could officious be used to replace impertinent?

The words officious and impertinent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, officious implies the offering of services or attentions that are unwelcome or annoying.

officious friends made the job harder

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of impertinent

But people all around us ask impertinent questions all the time. —Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2025

Cocky, opinionated, and flippant, Jimmy might as well be every foreigner’s idea of what those impertinent cowboy Americans are like. —Tim Grierson, Vulture, 14 July 2024

In the late Eighties, Ernst Jorgensen, then an executive at a BMG affiliate in Denmark, raised an impertinent question in an international meeting. —Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2024

There this brilliant but bewildered scientist gets cornered by a plutocrat with impertinent questions. —Alan Scherstuhl, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!