brassy

adjective

ˈbra-sē 

brassier; brassiest

1

a

: shamelessly bold

a brassy reporter

b

: obstreperous

2

: resembling brass especially in color

3

: resembling the sound of a brass instrument

brassily

ˈbra-sə-lē 

adverb

brassiness

ˈbra-sē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• bold
• wise
• sassy
• brazen
• fresh
• saucy
• cocky
• brash
• blunt
• impudent
• cheeky
• insolent
• assertive
• defiant
• audacious
• cocksure
• nervy

Examples of brassy in a Sentence

a brassy customer insisted on arriving late and still being taken first

Recent Examples on the Web

Designed to revive brassy blonde hair with coolness and shine, the shampoo gets its blue tint from jagua fruit extract. —Jenny Berg, Allure, 20 Nov. 2024

Because purple is opposite yellow on the color wheel, that kind of shampoo cancels out unwanted yellow or brassy tones. —Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025

This is a color-safe, sulfate-free formula that can neutralize brassy tones by adding rich purple pigments. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 15 July 2025

Purple is the opposite of yellow in the color wheel, and that’s why the purple pigments cancel out the brassy, yellow tones. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 15 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for brassy

• assay
• bassi
• brassey
• cassie
• chassis
• classy
• gassy
• glassy
• grassy
• lassie
• massy
• sassy

Kids Definition

brassy

adjective

ˈbras-ē 

brassier; brassiest

1

a

: shamelessly bold

b

: unruly

2

: resembling brass especially in color

3

: resembling the sound of a brass instrument

brassily

ˈbras-ə-lē 

adverb

brassiness

ˈbras-ē-nəs 

noun