effrontery

noun

ef·fron·tery i-ˈfrən-tə-rē How to pronounce effrontery (audio)

plural effronteries

: shameless boldness : insolence

Did you know?

To the Romans, the shameless were "without forehead," at least figuratively. Effrontery derives from Latin effrons, a word that combines the prefix ex- (meaning "out" or "without") and frons (meaning "forehead" or "brow"). The Romans never used effrons literally to mean "without forehead," and theorists aren't in full agreement about the connection between the modern meaning of effrontery and the literal senses of its roots. Some explain that frons can also refer to the capacity for blushing, so a person without frons would be "unblushing" or "shameless." Others theorize that since the Romans believed that the brow was the seat of a person's modesty, being without a brow meant being "immodest" or, again, "shameless."

Example Sentences

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

Recent Examples on the Web In Lewis’s account, drawn from the writings of a Resistance veteran named Gilbert Renault (nom de guerre: Colonel Rémy), her sheer effrontery assuaged suspicion.

Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2022 In an act of intellectual effrontery that recalls Karl Marx, Wengrow and Graeber use this insight to overthrow all existing dogma about humankind—to reimagine, in short, everything.

Virginia Heffernan, Wired, 11 July 2022 Thompson, skilled at both effrontery and anxiety, mines that tension brilliantly.

Justin Changfilm Critic, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2022 What Negro actor at this stage in the world’s history could dare bring to the role the effrontery Olivier does?

Armond White, National Review, 20 Oct. 2021 Bergman, who romanced his leading ladies and strip mined his personal demons for material, was hardly the least self-involved of European auteurs, and Hansen-Løve has fittingly responded with her own teasing display of meta-effrontery.

Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2021 His crowded, unmasked political rallies were reckless acts of effrontery.

Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 28 Dec. 2020 The book reaches a pitch of patronizing superiority in the sections about Mr. Akhtar’s father, an award-winning cardiologist who briefly treated Donald Trump and then had the effrontery to vote for his former patient in the 2016 election.

Sam Sacks, WSJ, 23 Oct. 2020 The first major payoff, like subsequent depredations, was both complex—involving a thicket of shell corporations and offshore money-laundering entrepôts—and crude, in view of the fraud’s effrontery.

Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 27 Apr. 2020 See More

effrontery

noun

as in gall

shameless boldness the little squirt had the effrontery to deny eating any cookies, even with the crumbs still on his lips

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

gall
nerve
arrogance
audacity
temerity
chutzpah
audaciousness
brazenness
presumptuousness
brashness
confidence
presumption
cheekiness
face
chutzpa
pertness
sauciness
hutzpah
assurance
brass
crust
cheek
impudence
brassiness
sauce
insolence
hardihood
hutzpa
impertinence
disrespect
rudeness
inconsiderateness
inconsideration
nerviness
cockiness
impoliteness
sanguinity
overconfidence
incivility
ungraciousness
self-assurance
sass
back talk
swagger
self-confidence
discourteousness
swash

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

timidity
diffidence
bashfulness
modesty
hesitancy
timorousness
shyness
manners
faintheartedness
courtesy
timidness
civility
gentility
graciousness
courteousness
mannerliness

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of effrontery are audacity, cheek, chutzpah, gall, hardihood, nerve, and temerity. While all these words mean "conspicuous or flagrant boldness," effrontery implies shameless, insolent disregard of propriety or courtesy.

outraged at his effrontery

Although the words audacity and effrontery have much in common, audacity implies a disregard of restraints commonly imposed by convention or prudence.

an entrepreneur with audacity and vision

The words hardihood and effrontery can be used in similar contexts, but hardihood suggests firmness in daring and defiance.

admired for her hardihood

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

The words temerity and effrontery are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, temerity suggests boldness arising from rashness and contempt of danger.

had the temerity to refuse

单词	effrontery
释义	effrontery noun ef·fron·tery i-ˈfrən-tə-rē e- plural effronteries : shameless boldness : insolence Did you know? To the Romans, the shameless were "without forehead," at least figuratively. Effrontery derives from Latin effrons, a word that combines the prefix ex- (meaning "out" or "without") and frons (meaning "forehead" or "brow"). The Romans never used effrons literally to mean "without forehead," and theorists aren't in full agreement about the connection between the modern meaning of effrontery and the literal senses of its roots. Some explain that frons can also refer to the capacity for blushing, so a person without frons would be "unblushing" or "shameless." Others theorize that since the Romans believed that the brow was the seat of a person's modesty, being without a brow meant being "immodest" or, again, "shameless." Synonyms audaciousness audacity brashness brass brassiness brazenness cheek cheekiness chutzpah chutzpa hutzpah hutzpa crust face gall nerve nerviness pertness presumption presumptuousness sauce sauciness temerity See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences the little squirt had the effrontery to deny eating any cookies, even with the crumbs still on his lips Recent Examples on the Web In Lewis’s account, drawn from the writings of a Resistance veteran named Gilbert Renault (nom de guerre: Colonel Rémy), her sheer effrontery assuaged suspicion. Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2022 In an act of intellectual effrontery that recalls Karl Marx, Wengrow and Graeber use this insight to overthrow all existing dogma about humankind—to reimagine, in short, everything. Virginia Heffernan, Wired, 11 July 2022 Thompson, skilled at both effrontery and anxiety, mines that tension brilliantly. Justin Changfilm Critic, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2022 What Negro actor at this stage in the world’s history could dare bring to the role the effrontery Olivier does? Armond White, National Review, 20 Oct. 2021 Bergman, who romanced his leading ladies and strip mined his personal demons for material, was hardly the least self-involved of European auteurs, and Hansen-Løve has fittingly responded with her own teasing display of meta-effrontery. Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2021 His crowded, unmasked political rallies were reckless acts of effrontery. Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 28 Dec. 2020 The book reaches a pitch of patronizing superiority in the sections about Mr. Akhtar’s father, an award-winning cardiologist who briefly treated Donald Trump and then had the effrontery to vote for his former patient in the 2016 election. Sam Sacks, WSJ, 23 Oct. 2020 The first major payoff, like subsequent depredations, was both complex—involving a thicket of shell corporations and offshore money-laundering entrepôts—and crude, in view of the fraud’s effrontery. Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 27 Apr. 2020 See More Word History Etymology French effronterie, ultimately from Medieval Latin effront-, effrons shameless, from Latin ex- + front-, frons forehead First Known Use 1697, in the meaning defined above effrontery noun as in gall shameless boldness the little squirt had the effrontery to deny eating any cookies, even with the crumbs still on his lips Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance gall nerve arrogance audacity temerity chutzpah audaciousness brazenness presumptuousness brashness confidence presumption cheekiness face chutzpa pertness sauciness hutzpah assurance brass crust cheek impudence brassiness sauce insolence hardihood hutzpa impertinence disrespect rudeness inconsiderateness inconsideration nerviness cockiness impoliteness sanguinity overconfidence incivility ungraciousness self-assurance sass back talk swagger self-confidence discourteousness swash Antonyms & Near Antonyms timidity diffidence bashfulness modesty hesitancy timorousness shyness manners faintheartedness courtesy timidness civility gentility graciousness courteousness mannerliness See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of effrontery are audacity, cheek, chutzpah, gall, hardihood, nerve, and temerity. While all these words mean "conspicuous or flagrant boldness," effrontery implies shameless, insolent disregard of propriety or courtesy. outraged at his effrontery Although the words audacity and effrontery have much in common, audacity implies a disregard of restraints commonly imposed by convention or prudence. an entrepreneur with audacity and vision The words hardihood and effrontery can be used in similar contexts, but hardihood suggests firmness in daring and defiance. admired for her hardihood 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 The words temerity and effrontery are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, temerity suggests boldness arising from rashness and contempt of danger. had the temerity to refuse
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effrontery

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

noun

Synonym Chooser