audacity

- 3 dictionary results

au⋅dac⋅i⋅ty

[aw-das-i-tee]

–noun, plural -ties.

1.	boldness or daring, esp. with confident or arrogant disregard for personal safety, conventional thought, or other restrictions.

2.	effrontery or insolence; shameless boldness: His questioner's audacity shocked the lecturer.

3.	Usually, audacities. audacious acts or statements.

Origin:
1400–50; late ME audacite < L audāc-, s. of audāx daring (adj.) + -ite -ity

Synonyms:
1. nerve, spunk, grit, temerity, foolhardiness. 2. impudence, impertinence, brashness.

Antonyms:
1, 2. discretion, prudence.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source

au·dac·i·ty (ô-dās'ĭ-tē)

n. pl. au·dac·i·ties

Fearless daring; intrepidity.
Bold or insolent heedlessness of restraints, as of those imposed by prudence, propriety, or convention.
An act or instance of intrepidity or insolent heedlessness: warned the students than any audacities committed during the graduation ceremony would be punished.

Word Origin & History

audacity

1432, from M.L. audacitas "boldness," from L. audacis gen. of audax "brave," but more often "bold" in a bad sense, from audere "to dare, be bold."

Search another word or see audacity on Thesaurus | Reference

About
·
Privacy Policy
·
Terms of Use
·
Careers
·
Advertise with Us
·
Link to Us
·
Contact Us

Partner Sites: