Synonym Chooser

How is the word audacity different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of audacity are cheek, chutzpah, effrontery, gall, hardihood, nerve, and temerity. While all these words mean "conspicuous or flagrant boldness," audacity implies a disregard of restraints commonly imposed by convention or prudence.

an entrepreneur with audacity and vision

When can effrontery be used instead of audacity?

The synonyms effrontery and audacity are sometimes interchangeable, but effrontery implies shameless, insolent disregard of propriety or courtesy.

outraged at his effrontery

When might hardihood be a better fit than audacity?

The words hardihood and audacity are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hardihood suggests firmness in daring and defiance.

admired for her hardihood

How is nerve related to other words for audacity?

Nerve, cheek, gall, and chutzpah are informal equivalents for effrontery.

the nerve of that guy
has the cheek to call herself a singer
had the gall to demand proof
the chutzpah needed for a career in show business

When is temerity a more appropriate choice than audacity?

While the synonyms temerity and audacity are close in meaning, temerity suggests boldness arising from rashness and contempt of danger.

had the temerity to refuse

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of audacity The recent news of former Supervisor Andrew Do’s guilty plea and resignation is extremely troubling, not only for the severity of the charges but the audacity of the behavior that was brought to light. Tri Ta, Orange County Register, 24 Oct. 2024 My friend Leonid Shvets, a journalist based in Kyiv, was thrilled by the audacity of the Kursk offensive. Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2024 The audacity of dope For years, a famous Washington joke had it that the most dangerous place to find yourself on Capitol Hill was between Chuck Schumer and a camera. Jeffrey Blehar, National Review, 20 Sep. 2024 But the fourth circle was a collection of every white dude who has ever had the audacity to rap on reality TV. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for audacity 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for audacity
Noun
  • And Big Government had the gall to charge me $35 to get in?
    Peter Rubin, Longreads, 19 Sep. 2024
  • The females will then find a gall, or a growth on a plant caused by mites, insects or some other kind of infestation.
    Li Cohen, CBS News, 15 Aug. 2024
Noun
  • In another type of operation, surgeons implant a device into the chest that connects to an electrode in the neck, which stimulates a nerve that controls the tongue.
    Matt Fuchs, TIME, 21 Nov. 2024
  • While some surgeons routinely suction the jowls when contouring the jawline, others avoid them, staying below the jawbone and giving a wide berth to the delicate nerve.
    Jolene Edgar, Allure, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • This can help alleviate concerns about potential arrogance or difficulty in adjusting to team dynamics. Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn.
    Jack Kelly, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
  • She's paired up with Xeni (voiced by Richard Ayoade), a daydream director looking to move up into the big leagues of nighttime dreams but has a lot of artistic arrogance.
    Christian Holub, EW.com, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Seriously, how easily the DOJ’s ankle-biters forget how Microsoft once got itself into trouble with the same DOJ for having had the temerity to include its Internet Explorer in its software bundle.
    John Tamny, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024
  • Think any Lincoln Lions will have the temerity to crash?
    Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 2 Oct. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near audacity

Cite this Entry

“Audacity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/audacity. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on audacity

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