brazen

[brey-zuhn]

adjective

1. shameless or impudent.

   brazen presumption.

   Synonyms: brassy, defiant, insolent

2. made of brass.

3. like brass, as in sound, color, or strength.

   Synonyms: brassy

verb (used with object)

1. to make brazen or bold.

verb phrase

1. brazen out / through,  to face boldly or shamelessly.

   He prefers to brazen it out rather than admit defeat.

brazen

/ ˈbreɪzən /

adjective

1. shameless and bold

2. made of or resembling brass

3. having a ringing metallic sound like that of a brass trumpet

verb

1. to face and overcome boldly or shamelessly

   the witness brazened out the prosecutor's questions

2. to make (oneself, etc) bold or brash

Other Word Forms

• brazenly adverb
• brazenness noun
• outbrazen verb (used with object)
• unbrazen adjective
• unbrazenness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of brazen¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English brasen (adjective), Old English bræsen “(made) of brass”; brass

Word History and Origins

Origin of brazen¹

Old English bræsen , from bræs _brass

Synonym Study

See bold.

Example Sentences

Our rights haven’t eroded to that degree, but Kimmel’s “indefinite” suspension is the most brazen evidence of this administration’s willingness to use politicized agencies against his perceived enemies.

From Salon

Estonia's foreign ministry in Tallinn condemned the incursion as "brazen".

From BBC

Secret police filming soon caught Andrews Jr doing brazen Class A drug deals in broad daylight and handing over more than £100,000 at a time in supermarket carrier bags.

From BBC

He refused, trying to "brazen it out" - sources suggest he kept "telling everyone it would be fine".

From BBC

The brazen daylight heist, which was caught on video, prompted an angry response from lawmakers, public safety advocates and Vietnamese community leaders who called for increased law enforcement resources to combat organized crime rings.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• audacious 
• blatant 
• bold 
• impudent 
• shameless 
• unabashed