Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun Brazen boldness; presumptuousness.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Assurance; shamelessness; sauciness; impudence or boldness in transgressing the bounds of modesty, propreity, duty, etc.: as, the effrontery of vice; their corrupt practices were pursued with bold effrontery.
- noun Synonyms Impertinence, etc. (see
impudence ); hardihood, audacity. See list underimpertinence .
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun Impudence or boldness in confronting or in transgressing the bounds of duty or decorum; insulting presumptuousness; shameless boldness; barefaced assurance.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun
Insolent andshameless audacity . - noun An
act of insolent and shameless audacity.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun audacious (even arrogant) behavior that you have no right to
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Yet there she was, and moving with a leisureliness that must be described as effrontery!
The Old Wives' Tale Arnold Bennett 1899
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Christian Sabbath, nor "approves the creed" of any orthodox denomination, to be lecturing a numerous body of Clergymen, as to what they ought or ought not to do, it is the culmination of all that is called effrontery!
Americanism Contrasted with Foreignism, Romanism, and Bogus Democracy in the Light of Reason, History, and Scripture; In which Certain Demagogues in Tennessee, and Elsewhere, are Shown Up in Their True Colors William Gannaway Brownlow 1841
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Their latest topic is the "effrontery" of ... digg
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Their latest topic is the "effrontery" of Jon Stewart who, by interviewing Jim Cramer, invaded their territory.
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So, I find I can't agree that his presence is an "effrontery," although I wholeheartedly agree that it is politically incongruous.
Balkinization 2006
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Armond saw the same "effrontery" found in British punk, and the provocative words and song titles heard from The Smiths.
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And he, embarrassed and shaken for the moment by this sudden visitation, was still heartened and hardened into a kind of effrontery and gallantry such as he had not felt as yet in regard to her.
An American Tragedy 2004
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This is a much more frequent cause than one might think of the exhibition of an effrontery which is apparently deliberate and intentional.
Poise: How to Attain It D. Starke
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They call loudly for the Knights, who enter as the Chorus to assist them against Cleon, encouraging the sausage-seller to show the brazen effrontery which is the mob-orator's sole protection, and to prove that a decent upbringing is meaningless.
Authors of Greece T. W. Lumb
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She returned to court nevertheless, and constantly denying her marriage, fought it out with the effrontery which is so easily forgiven, in fashionable life, to youth, wit, and beauty.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine — Volume 55, No. 340, February, 1844 Various
Prolagus commented on the word effrontery
The advice that is wanted is commonly not welcome and that which is not wanted, evidently an effrontery.
(Samuel Johnson)
March 11, 2008
dbekeny commented on the word effrontery
OZ'S VOICE
And you, Scarecrow, have the effrontery to
ask for a brain?
June 7, 2010
dailyword commented on the word effrontery
This word was used in an episode of "The Borgias."
June 15, 2012