temerity

[ tuh-mer-i-tee ]
See synonyms for temerity on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. reckless boldness; rashness.

Origin of temerity

1
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English temeryte, from Latin temeritās “hap, chance, rashness,” equivalent to temer(e) “by chance, rashly” + -itās -ity

Other words for temerity

Words Nearby temerity

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use temerity in a sentence

  • Nor is it where the gunman then viciously pistol whips his victim repeatedly for having the temerity not to die.

  • Who would have the temerity, in such an hour, to oppose the affectionate demonstration?

  • The temerity of Westmacott, whose nature was notoriously timid, had surprised him for a moment.

    Mistress Wilding | Rafael Sabatini
  • And his friends gasped at his temerity and trembled for him, not knowing what grounds he had for counting himself unassailable.

    Mistress Wilding | Rafael Sabatini
  • And he would cower in the background blushing his absurd little blushes at his second-hand temerity.

    Blazed Trail Stories | Stewart Edward White
  • Beginning an uncouth lad, he became a sea fighter whose temerity outranks all.

    Historic Fredericksburg | John T. Goolrick

British Dictionary definitions for temerity

temerity

/ (tɪˈmɛrɪtɪ) /


noun
  1. rashness or boldness

Origin of temerity

1
C15: from Latin temeritās accident, from temere at random

Derived forms of temerity

  • temerarious (ˌtɛməˈrɛərɪəs), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012