boldness

American

[bohld-nis] / ˈboʊld nɪs /

noun

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.
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.
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.
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.
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

Etymology

Origin of boldness

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But the prime minister failed to convince many of his MPs that his leadership matches the boldness they believe voters expect from a Labour government.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

The head of China's top economic planning body told a press conference that leaders had "the boldness and confidence to cope with various risks and market fluctuations", thanks to the scale of the Chinese economy.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

As a woman working in big-budget, mainstream film, Fennell’s boldness is mistaken for trashiness; her feminine gaze is confused with a typically masculine gratuitousness.

From Salon • Feb. 23, 2026

Bindu Shah: I’ve been at the brand for about the last five to six months, so I’m relatively new but definitely wanted to preserve the legacy and ensure we stay provocative and maintain our boldness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 5, 2026

That had been during the early days when I had felt strong restrictions and resented Emma's boldness and her opinion that I should have been blacker to play my role of Harlem leader.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023