effrontery

ef·fron·tery

noun \i-ˈfrən-tə-rē, e-\

plural ef·fron·ter·ies

Definition of EFFRONTERY

: shameless boldness : insolence

Examples of EFFRONTERY

1. <the little squirt had the effrontery to deny eating any cookies, even with the crumbs still on his lips>

Origin of EFFRONTERY

French effronterie, ultimately from Medieval Latin effront-, effrons shameless, from Latin ex- + front-, frons forehead

First Known Use: 1697

Related to EFFRONTERY

Synonyms: audaciousness, audacity, brashness, brass, brassiness, brazenness, cheek, cheekiness, chutzpah (also chutzpa or hutzpah or hutzpa), crust, face, gall, nerve, nerviness, pertness, presumption, presumptuousness, sauce, sauciness, temerity

Related Words: arrogance, assurance, cockiness, confidence, hardihood, overconfidence, sanguinity, self-assurance, self-confidence; discourteousness, disrespect, impertinence, impoliteness, impudence, incivility, inconsiderateness, inconsideration, insolence, rudeness, ungraciousness; back talk, sass; swagger, swash

Near Antonyms: bashfulness, diffidence, faintheartedness, hesitancy, modesty, shyness, timidity, timidness, timorousness; civility, courteousness, courtesy, gentility, graciousness, mannerliness, manners

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See Synonym Discussion at temerity