chutzpah

/ ˈxʊtspə /

noun

1. informal,  shameless audacity; impudence

chutzpah

1. Yiddish term for courage bordering on arrogance, roughly equivalent to “nerve” (in the slang sense): “It took a lot of chutzpah to make such a controversial statement.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of chutzpah¹

C20: from Yiddish

Example Sentences

Nor do these concerns change the fact that genuine — and productive — political discourse requires much more than an opinion, passion and a bit of chutzpah.

From Salon

“That show gave me a little bit more of chutzpah in asking for this,” he adds.

From Los Angeles Times

As Michael Li of the Brennan Center explained, it was a shocking partisan power grab that gained national attention for its chutzpah — but it was at least somewhat justifiable.

From Salon

Expectations were high; Apple TV+ had the chutzpah to show it at both the Venice and Telluride film festivals last year.

From Los Angeles Times

“Another Simple Favor” pushes the limits of mainstream filmmaking every chance it gets, in ways so cringeworthy and stupefying that it’s difficult not to, at the very least, respect Feig’s chutzpah.

From Salon

Related Words

• arrogance 
• audacity 
• boldness 
• gall