brassy

¹

[ bras-ee, brah-see ]

adjective

, brass·i·er, brass·i·est.

1. made of or covered with brass.
2. resembling brass, as in color.
3. harsh and metallic:

   brassy tones.

4. brazen; bold; loud.

   Synonyms: brash, cheeky, forward, saucy, insolent

   Antonyms: retiring, shy, modest

5. noisy; clamorous:

   a big, brassy nightclub.

brassy

²

[ bras-ee, brah-see ]

noun

, Golf.

, plural brass·ies.

1. brassie.

brassy

/ ˈbrɑːsɪ /

adjective

1. insolent; brazen
2. flashy; showy
3. (of sound) harsh, strident, or resembling the sound of a brass instrument
4. like brass, esp in colour
5. decorated with or made of brass
6. See brassie
   a variant spelling of brassie

Derived Forms

• ˈbrassily, adverb
• ˈbrassiness, noun

Other Words From

• brassi·ly adverb
• brassi·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of brassy¹

First recorded in 1570–80; brass + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Some who had been relying on cheaper grocery-store brands found that their hair turned brassy at the ends.

From Washington Post

Phil Hoffman had to transform himself into Truman Capote while Julia Roberts won for being brassy in Erin Brockovich.

From The Daily Beast

That brassy ploy had caught the Costa Ricans entirely off-guard and had knocked them off their stride.

From The Daily Beast

The brassy Baptist says AIDS is spread through gay men who wear sharp rings to draw blood out of their targets.

From The Daily Beast

“His films are brassy, anachronistic,” says Rex Roberts, associate editor with Film International.

From The Daily Beast

It's inspired by the women she sees on Tumblr who are "bright, brash, and brassy," she explains.

From The Daily Beast

Findin' himsilf in a bad lie, he undhertook to use a brassy in a spirit iv nawthin' venture nawthin' gain.

From Project Gutenberg

For a moment the bold, brassy look was gone from her face, like a mask that had slipped.

From Project Gutenberg

The brassy noonday fervor, blazing from an unclouded sky, starkly revealed every detail.

From Project Gutenberg

He gazed in silence at Mr. Bryany's brassy and yet simple face, and did not like the face either.

From Project Gutenberg

From where the ball lay an easy brassy brought it near enough to the green to negotiate another four.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• blaring
• bold
• brash
• flashy
• gaudy
• jarring
• jazzy
• piercing
• rude
• shrill