barefaced

American  

[bair-feyst] / ˈbɛərˌfeɪst /

adjective

1. with the face uncovered.

2. shameless; impudent; audacious.

   a barefaced lie.

   Synonyms:

   unabashed, bold, brazen

3. without concealment or disguise; boldly open.

   a barefaced approach.

   Synonyms:

   transparent, palpable, patent

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barefaced British  

/ ˈbɛəˌfeɪst, ˈbɛəˌfeɪsɪdlɪ /

adjective

1. unconcealed or shameless

   a barefaced lie

2. with the face uncovered or shaven

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• barefacedness
  noun
• barefacedly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of barefaced

First recorded in 1580–90; bare ¹ + faced

Explanation

If masked means hidden, barefaced means unconcealed. If you get caught speeding and reach into your wallet and hand the officer $20, that’s a barefaced attempt at a bribe. Barefaced — or as it's sometimes known, bald-faced — behavior is always bold and sometimes shameless. Nonchalantly telling a security guard at the jewelry store that you "plain forgot" you'd slipped the necklace into your pocket is a barefaced lie and shameless to boot. A reporter's barefaced questioning of a mayor found to be stealing from city treasury carries no shame, on the other hand — at least not for the reporter.