temerity

American  

[tuh-mer-i-tee] / təˈmɛr ɪ ti /

noun

1. reckless boldness; rashness.

   Synonyms:

   foolhardy, effrontery, audacity

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temerity British  

/ ˌtɛməˈrɛərɪəs, tɪˈmɛrɪtɪ /

noun

1. rashness or boldness

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Other Word Forms

• temerarious adjective

Etymology

Origin of temerity

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English temeryte, from Latin temeritās “hap, chance, rashness,” equivalent to temer(e) “by chance, rashly” + -itās -ity

Example Sentences

Ms. Takaichi had the temerity to say so in November, and Beijing’s mouthpieces attacked her for it.

From The Wall Street Journal

Nora can’t believe he has the temerity to ask her to star in his next work after many years of estrangement.

From The Wall Street Journal

That same year, Life magazine quoted an unnamed member of a symphony orchestra griping that Sinatra actually had the temerity to tell them what tempos he wanted his arrangements played in.

From The Wall Street Journal

In the beginning, many scoffed at the temerity of a peanut farmer and one-term governor running for the highest office in the land.

From Los Angeles Times

The Times was especially agitated that the boys’ fathers had had the temerity to go to federal court over this.

From Los Angeles Times