effrontery

American  

[ih-fruhn-tuh-ree] / ɪˈfrʌn tə ri /

noun

plural

effronteries

1. shameless or impudent boldness; barefaced audacity.

   She had the effrontery to ask for two free samples.

   Synonyms:

   cheek, impudence, impertinence

2. an act or instance of this.

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effrontery British  

/ ɪˈfrʌntərɪ /

noun

1. shameless or insolent boldness; impudent presumption; audacity; temerity

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Etymology

Origin of effrontery

1705–15; < French effronterie, equivalent to Old French esfront shameless ( es- ex- ¹ + front brow; front ) + -erie -ery

Example Sentences

One provision stands out for its sheer effrontery.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 25, 2025

It was followed by the trademark look of complete effrontery at the perceived injustice of it all, even though there was none.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2024

They are apparently seething over his rude effrontery, the serve-my-whims, feed-me-another-grape demands that they “indemnify” him from anything, ever, before he will free them from his odious presence by selling.

From Washington Post • Feb. 28, 2023

The four band members were low-born Northerners from a dingy port town with no formal education; their success was against the natural order of things, an act of effrontery.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 7, 2023

“Louis saw it done repeatedly, and at first was amazed at Burnham’s effrontery, only to be more amazingly amazed at the drooling of the recipient. The method was crude but it worked.”

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson