boldness

[bohld-nis]

noun

1. lack of hesitation or fear in the face of risk or danger; courage.

   Some members of the LGBTQ community have been murdered because of their boldness in living as their true selves and not as society tried to force them to live.

2. refusal to be held back by the opinion or judgment of others.

   I admire your boldness in standing up on this issue; thank you for your candid words.

3. lack of regard for the rules of propriety or morality; impudence or brazenness.

   In the early 20th century many people were shocked at the boldness and sexual innuendos that emerged in song.

4. the fact or quality of going beyond the usual limits of conventional thought or action; visionary or imaginative character.

   With boldness, leadership, and determination, we are leveraging today's successes into a smarter city for all of our residents.

5. the quality of being visually striking, arresting, flashy, etc..

   If you are someone who is generally perceived as meek and mild, then a little boldness in your wardrobe and your makeup would revamp your look.

Other Word Forms

• overboldness noun
• superboldness noun
• unboldness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of boldness¹

bold ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

Such boldness is admirable, and indicative of Michael’s commitment to following his own vision.

From Salon

“I’m actually quite stunned at the velocity of this and the boldness of it.”

From Los Angeles Times

Taken aback by her boldness, Singh asked Roy to meet him the following day and narrate the idea in less than 10 minutes.

From BBC

That trademark boldness was on full display when the band announced U.S. tour dates: “America. Oasis is coming. You have one last chance to prove that you loved us all along.”

From Los Angeles Times

He said he liked the boldness of leaving my number and had wanted to do the same.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bravery 
• chutzpah 
• courage 
• daring 
• determination 
• fearlessness www.thesaurus.com
• recklessness www.thesaurus.com