Audacity: meaning, definitions and examples

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audacity

 

[ ษ”หหˆdรฆsษ™ti ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

courageous behavior

Audacity is the willingness to take bold risks or to push the boundaries of what is considered normal or acceptable.

Synonyms

boldness, bravery, daring, fearlessness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
audacity

Used when someone does something very bold, often in a disrespectful or rude way.

  • She had the audacity to interrupt the meeting and criticize the boss
boldness

Used when describing someone who is willing to take risks and act confidently.

  • Her boldness in presenting her ideas impressed everyone in the room
fearlessness

Used to describe someone who does not feel fear, or who is very courageous.

  • Her fearlessness in the face of danger inspired the entire team
daring

Used when someone is willing to take risks and challenge norms, often implying a sense of adventure.

  • The explorer's daring voyage across the ocean was legendary
bravery

Used when talking about someone showing courage, especially in dangerous or difficult situations.

  • His bravery during the fire saved many lives

Examples of usage

  • She had the audacity to ask for a raise after only working at the company for a month.
  • The audacity of his plan was both impressive and reckless.
  • I can't believe the audacity of some people to speak to others in such a disrespectful manner.
Context #2 | Noun

impudence

Audacity can also refer to a rude or disrespectful attitude, often used in a negative context.

Synonyms

brashness, cheekiness, impertinence, impudence.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
audacity

This word is best used when talking about someone who takes bold risks, often without considering the negative consequences. It can have both positive and negative connotations depending on the context.

  • He had the audacity to ask for a raise after only a month on the job
  • She showed great audacity by presenting her controversial ideas to the board
impudence

This word is used to describe behavior that is blatantly disrespectful, shameless, and offensive. It generally has a strong negative connotation.

  • His impudence was unacceptable and he was asked to leave the room
  • She couldn't believe his impudence in speaking back to the manager
cheekiness

This word is often used to describe playful, impudent behavior that is somewhat disrespectful but in a humorous or endearing way. It is commonly used in British English.

  • The boy's cheekiness made everyone laugh, despite the chaos he caused
  • You can't help but admire her cheekiness
impertinence

This word is used for behavior that is rude and disrespectful towards someone of higher status or authority. It has a formal tone and a negative connotation.

  • His impertinence towards the professor was shocking
  • She was reprimanded for her impertinence during the meeting
brashness

Use this word to describe behavior that is offensively bold, rash, and self-assertive. It generally has a negative connotation.

  • His brashness made him unpopular among his colleagues
  • Her brashness often got her into trouble

Examples of usage

  • I was shocked by her audacity to speak to the manager in such a tone.
  • The audacity of his comments left everyone in the room speechless.

Translations

Translations of the word "audacity" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น audรกcia

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฆเฅเคธเฅเคธเคพเคนเคธ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Kรผhnheit

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ keberanian

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะทัƒั…ะฒะฐะปั–ัั‚ัŒ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ zuchwaล‚oล›ฤ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅคง่ƒ†ใ•

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท audace

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ audacia

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท cรผret

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋Œ€๋‹ด

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฌุฑุฃุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ odvaha

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ odvaha

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅคง่ƒ†

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ drznost

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ dirska

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฑะฐั‚ั‹ะปะดั‹า›

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒกแƒ˜แƒ›แƒแƒ›แƒแƒชแƒ”

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ cรผret

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ audacia

Etymology

The word "audacity" traces its origins back to the Latin word "audacia", meaning boldness or daring. Over time, it has evolved to encompass both positive connotations of courage and negative connotations of impudence. The concept of audacity has been celebrated in literature and history, with famous figures often being praised for their audacious actions. Today, audacity continues to be a term used to describe individuals who show boldness or impudence in their behavior.

See also: audaciously.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #16,456, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.