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

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
• unhandsome
• ill-mannered
• impudent
• unmannered
• insolent
• ill-bred
• 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
• 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

For three long weeks that began to seem rude or impertinent, as if the Prize hadn’t been announced, as if a king and queen weren’t waiting for his answer, Dylan said nothing about the award. —Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025

Questions about the overheating of the American economy were brushed aside as impertinent. —Arancha González Laya, Foreign Affairs, 12 May 2025

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

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!