brash

[brash]

adjective

brasher, brashest 

1. impertinent; impudent; tactless.

   a brash young man.

2. hasty; rash; impetuous.

   Synonyms: precipitate, foolhardy, imprudent, overhasty, reckless
   Antonyms: careful, prudent, wary, cautious

3. energetic or highly spirited, especially in an irreverent way; zesty.

   a brash new musical.

4. (used especially of wood) brittle.

noun

1. a pile or stack of loose fragments or debris, as of rocks or hedge clippings.

2. brash ice.

3. Pathology.,  heartburn.

4. Scot. and North England Dialect.

   1. a sudden shower or burst of rain.

   2. any sudden, minor sickness or indisposition, especially of the digestive tract.

   3. an assault; attack.

brash

¹

/ bræʃ /

adjective

1. tastelessly or offensively loud, showy, or bold

2. hasty; rash

3. impudent

brash

²

/ bræʃ /

noun

1. loose rubbish, such as broken rock, hedge clippings, etc; debris

brash

³

/ bræʃ /

noun

1. pathol another name for heartburn

Other Word Forms

• brashly adverb
• brashness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of brash¹

First recorded in 1400–50; (noun) late Middle English brass(c)he “a slap, crash,” perhaps blend of brok(e) ( Old English broc “breach, fragment, sickness”; akin to break ) and dasch “smashing blow”; dash ¹; (adjective) in the sense “brittle” is derivative of the noun; in the sense “hasty” by confusion with rash ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of brash¹

C19: perhaps influenced by _rash ¹

Origin of brash²

C18: of unknown origin

Origin of brash³

C16: perhaps of imitative origin

Example Sentences

Logan’s Bea, a diva with a revolving grudge, never worries if she’s being too bold or brash.

From Los Angeles Times

A crowd in a city known for its brash and harsh sports fans clearly felt this was all fair game.

From BBC

When he’s in the safe space of right-wing media, Patel conducts himself with a brash overconfidence.

From Salon

She made that abundantly clear with a pen and scathing words — both directed to one brash and curious man.

From Los Angeles Times

Madonna's Ray Of Light, written after the birth of her daughter Lourdes, eschewed her brash 1980s persona for a more spiritual, psychedelic sound.

From BBC

Related Words

• bold 
• brazen 
• cheeky 
• cocky 
• rude