audacity

[ aw-das-i-tee ]

/ ɔˈdæs ɪ ti /

boldness or daring, especially with confident or arrogant disregard for personal safety, conventional thought, or other restrictions.

effrontery or insolence; shameless boldness: His questioner's audacity shocked the lecturer.

Usually audacities. audacious or particularly bold or daring acts or statements.

Nearby words

1400–50; late Middle English audacite < Latin audāc-, stem of audāx daring (adj.) + -ite -ity

SYNONYMS FOR audacity

ANTONYMS FOR audacity

In the end, talent and technique got the better of ardor and audacity.
Team USA Goes Down Swinging in 2-1 World Cup Loss to Belgium|Tunku Varadarajan|July 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They have a great sense of performance, bravado, and audacity.
The Great Character Actor: Guy Pearce on His Brilliant Career, From ‘Priscilla’ to ‘The Rover’|Richard Porton|May 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As David Plouffe detailed in his book, The Audacity To Win, the campaign had committed in writing to stay in the federal system.
Federal Campaign Funds: Easier Money|Stuart Stevens|April 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In real life both men shared the gift of audacity; they were subversive, dissident and seductive.
Lawrence of Arabia Became Popular as the Dashing Antithesis of the War in Europe|Jack Schwartz|December 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST

It had to do with me having the audacity to mock their new savior Ted Cruz.
The Tea Party’s War on Comedy|Dean Obeidallah|October 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Peter Cauchon's face, at once striking and repulsive, betokens a mixture of audacity, wile and extraordinary stubbornness.
The Executioner's Knife|Eugne Sue
"He certainly is not lacking in audacity," thought Mr. Morgan.
Brave and Bold|Horatio Alger
With all his audacity he began to cringe under the grave, quiet glance of inquiry bent upon him.
Norston's Rest|Ann S. Stephens
"Very generous," she answered calmly, coming back to her natural coolness and audacity.
The Art of Disappearing|John Talbot Smith
Whereat his wife taking present audacity, and reproving his sayings, with a cursed minde did deny it.
The Golden Asse|Lucius Apuleius

mid-15c., from Medieval Latin audacitas "boldness," from Latin audacis genitive of audax (see audacious).