brash

[ brash ]

adjective

, brash·er, brash·est.

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 ( def 1 ).
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 /

noun

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

brash

²

/ bræʃ /

adjective

1. tastelessly or offensively loud, showy, or bold
2. hasty; rash
3. impudent

brash

³

/ bræʃ /

noun

1. pathol another name for heartburn

Derived Forms

• ˈbrashly, adverb
• ˈbrashness, noun

Other Words From

• brash·ly adverb
• brash·ness 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

C18: of unknown origin

Origin of brash²

C19: perhaps influenced by rash ¹

Origin of brash³

C16: perhaps of imitative origin

Example Sentences

Behind the wheel of a minivan, you subversively toss out the stereotypes—the rugged Tacoma, the decked-out Sprinter, heck, even the sporty Outback—and recast the meek denizen of the cul-de-sac as a brash open-road adventurer.

From Outside Online

In a 1991 Entertainment Weekly album review, critic Arion Berger described the project as “sophisticated beyond the band members’ years,” “lush,” and “propelled by a brash energy.”

From Essence.com

Jeffrey Gundlach, a “brash and brilliant billionaire known as the King of Bonds,” says he’s wrong about 30 percent of the time.

From Washington Post

When you look at Megan Thee Stallion, City Girls and even Cardi B, Trina, Foxy Brown, and Lil’ Kim wrapped together really kicked down the doors of not only feminism but brash ownership of the weaponization of your sexuality.

From Essence.com

Fluent in the brash gestures of rock-and-roll, they always deploy their broad strokes delicately and tactfully, giving the stories in their lyrics enough breathing room to feel real.

From Washington Post

The brash, engaged, occasionally self-centered ex-lawmaker seemed to retreat inward and practically disappear.

From The Daily Beast

Brash, crass, and overflowing with wiseass attitude, he remains the ultimate postmodern superhero.

From The Daily Beast

Brash, crass, and sporting a perpetually raised eyebrow, Ash Williams remains the ultimate postmodern superhero.

From The Daily Beast

In the movie, Murray portrays Vincent McKenna, a brash, loud, foul-mouthed man who drinks and chain-smokes.

From The Daily Beast

By relieving McElhone of the brash movie ending she is able to maintain her grasp on a flawed but still complex character.

From The Daily Beast

It was no brash idea, no hare-brained impulse concocted in one's cups, perhaps.

From Project Gutenberg

Reefs buried in frothing surge showed their glistening mantles, and the boat swerved to avoid floating streamers of brash-ice.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus the northern face crumbles down into brash or floats away as part of a berg severed from the main body of the shelf-ice.

From Project Gutenberg

The whole watery expanse was covered with brash, and we were obliged to pick our way with considerable caution.

From Project Gutenberg

This disease is more frequently called water brash and sometimes heart burn.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• foolhardy
• impetuous
• overconfident
• rash
• reckless