audacity

[aw-das-i-tee]

noun

plural

audacities 

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

   Synonyms: foolhardiness, temerity, grit, spunk, nerve
   Antonyms: prudence, discretion

2. effrontery or insolence; shameless boldness.

   His questioner's audacity shocked the lecturer.

   Synonyms: brashness, impertinence, impudence
   Antonyms: discretion, prudence

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of audacity¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English audacite, equivalent to Latin audāc- (stem of audāx “bold, daring”) + -ity

Example Sentences

“That is how you can get over the audacity and insanity of it all.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It’s the first time in history… that any party has had the audacity to shut down the government over a clean CR.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Before Sinatra, no other singers would have exhibited such ambition—even audacity—on behalf of either themselves or the American vernacular song.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“I think it’s important now more than ever for us to be unified and standing up for our rights together. Especially when they have the audacity to try to lie, especially to the public.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But Brook had the audacity and skill to punch back.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• chutzpah 
• gall 
• guts www.thesaurus.com
• spunk