Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun The quality of being offensively bold.
- noun Offensively bold behavior.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The character or quality of being impudent.
- noun Impudent behavior; brazenness; effrontery; insolence.
- noun Synonyms Impertinence, Impudence, Effrontery, Sauciness, Pertness, Rudeness, audacity, insolence, assurance, presumption, boldness, face. Impertinence is primarily non-pertinence, conduct not pertaining or appropriate to the circumstances, and is hence a disposition to meddle with what does not pertain to one, and more specifically unmannerly conduct or speech. Impudence is unblushing impertinence manifesting itself in words, tones, gestures, looks, etc. Effrontery is extreme impudence, which is not abashed at rebuke, but shows unconcern for the opinion of others; it is audacious and brazen-faced. Sauciness is a sharp kind of impertinence, chiefly in language, and primarily from an inferior. It is, in language, essentially the same with pertness, which, however, covers all indecorous freedom of bearing toward others; pertness is forwardness inappropriate to one's years, station, or sex. Rudeness is the only one of these words seeming to refer primarily to character; in this use it implies manners or language which might be expected from lack of culture or good breeding, and includes what is said or done from a desire to be offensive or uncivil. See
arrogance .
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun The quality of being impudent; assurance, accompanied with a disregard of the presence or opinions of others; shamelessness; forwardness; lack of modesty.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun The quality of being
impudent , not showing due respect. - noun Impudent language, conduct or behavior.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun the trait of being rude and impertinent; inclined to take liberties
- noun an impudent statement
Etymologies
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Examples
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'An old man's opinion of two youngsters is not what I call impudence,' began Louis, with an emphasis that made Jem divert his attack.
Dynevor Terrace: or, the clue of life — Volume 1 Charlotte Mary Yonge 1862
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Epicharis, when questioned and confronted with Proculus, resolutely denied that she had ever held any such conversation with Proculus as he alledged, and feigned the utmost astonishment at what she termed the impudence of his accusation.
Nero Makers of History Series Jacob Abbott 1841
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He used to brag to me always of a great acquaintance he had there, what an esteem my lady had for him, and had the vanity (not to call it impudence) to talk sometimes as if he would have had me believe he might have had her, and would not; I'll swear I blushed for him when I saw he did not.
Letters from Dorothy Osborne to Sir William Temple (1652-54) 1888
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With all his daring disregard of orders and established customs, with all his consummate _sang-froid_ and what some called impudence and others "cheek," every superior under whom he had ever served had sooner or later become actually fond of Sam
Waring's Peril Charles King 1888
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Now that they are on top, they have a particular and curious kind of impudence, which is only known among slaves.
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The notion that any clergyman should have the 'impudence' -- (this was the word used by Mrs. Bludlip Courtenay) -- to pause in the service because people came in late, touched the very apex of absurdity.
God's Good Man Marie Corelli 1889
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The notion that any clergyman should have the 'impudence' -- (this was the word used by Mrs. Bludlip Courtenay) -- to pause in the service because people came in late, touched the very apex of absurdity.
God's Good Man Marie Corelli 1889
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The notion that any clergyman should have the 'impudence' -- (this was the word used by Mrs. Bludlip Courtenay) -- to pause in the service because people came in late, touched the very apex of absurdity.
God's Good Man Marie Corelli 1889
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465 Her impudence is intended to be that of a captive Princess.
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His whole appearance gave one the idea of impudence; his dress was shabby.
The Idiot 2002
madmouth commented on the word impudence
"'I do not like That Cat', she told me, 'but he is OURS and no Hamilton dog is going to come here and give him impudence in his own backyard.'"
-Rebecca Dew in Anne of Windy Poplars
June 1, 2009