sauciness

noun

Definition of saucinessnext
as in nerve
shameless boldness it takes an incredible amount of sauciness to ask a total stranger what her age is

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of sauciness Lace and leather gloves sourced from vintage costumers added a touch of sauciness to Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera evening dresses worn to the ballet and and the theater. — Nicky Josephine, Vogue, 29 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sauciness
  1. nerve
  2. gall
  3. arrogance
  4. brashness
  5. pertness
  6. confidence
Noun
  • Avila’s lawyer, Nancy Doumanian, previously disputed the judge’s tentative finding that there was insufficient evidence Avila had suffered permanent nerve damage.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Normally, such coordination is the nervous system’s job, carried out by little electrical signals traveling along nerves.
    — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of nerve
Noun
  • Kari was confined to a wheelchair and had to have her gall bladder removed.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Avicii was hospitalized for health issues throughout his lifetime, and increased alcohol consumption to curb his anxiety led to acute pancreatitis and a gall bladder surgery.
    — Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of gall
Noun
  • Ilya is looking for work as an assistant, and the professor, with his dandyish nerd arrogance, tells him to look at a paper he’s written and come back in a few days.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026
  • This standalone novel looks at the cult of celebrity, the bond among parents and children, entitlement and arrogance, all wrapped into a tightly wound plot that’s an evocative historical steeped in the Great Depression.
    — Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of arrogance
Noun
  • As fashion cycles through infinite stages of nostalgia—particularly the brashness of the ’80s and the sleek, techy sportiness of the ’90s—there’s something about airbrushing that feels less overt and slightly irreverent.
    — Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
  • There’s also hints of vulnerability and genuine tenderness in her stern headmistress of the bedroom, which Wilde slips in just slyly enough to let the presence of a heart peek through all the brainy brashness and hormone overload.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2026
Definition of brashness
Noun
  • That pertness should be unbearable, but the scene is written in a minor key and performed by both actors to match, favouring eye contact and murmurs; the sheer brevity prevents it from becoming gloopy or crass.
    — Caspar Salmon, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of pertness
Noun
  • For people who feel intimidated by the gym, working with a qualified trainer for a few sessions can help boost confidence and refine technique, according to Zemer.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Young Musicians Unite is providing free music education to more than 20,000 students each week across Miami, using the classroom to teach not only instruments but also confidence, teamwork and leadership.
    — Najahe Sherman, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of confidence

Browse Nearby Words

saucily
sauciness
saucing
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sauciness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sauciness. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of discreet

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All