Synonym Chooser

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

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

When is it sensible to use audacity instead of 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

When might hardihood be a better fit than effrontery?

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

admired for her hardihood

How does the word nerve relate to other synonyms for effrontery?

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 would temerity be a good substitute for effrontery?

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

Example 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 effrontery Wu, notably, is framed as the instigator in the relationship; Cheung has a few priceless reaction shots, as Lam can’t believe—or, ultimately, resist—his student’s seductive effrontery. Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 23 July 2024 Blocking the medical board from physician regulation is the worst effrontery to medical professionalism, puts the public at unacceptable risk, and might be a place for bad physician actors to be shrouded and protected. Joel B. Zivot, STAT, 26 Feb. 2024 These companies apparently have the effrontery to resist the attempts to reduce their access to capital being organized, primarily, by a largely unaccountable cabal of activists, financial institutions, and state pension funds. Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 7 Jan. 2024 Miller, putting a spin of effrontery on every line, is the perfect actor to play this corkscrew superhero. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 6 June 2023 See All Example Sentences for effrontery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for effrontery
Noun
  • People were essentially imprisoned in their homes, yet Newsom had the gall to dine mask-free at French Laundry with lobbyists.
    Houman Hemmati, Oc Register, 20 July 2025
  • And for all this some institutions have the gall to charge undergraduates upwards of $100,000 a year!
    Adrian Wooldridge, Twin Cities, 6 May 2025
Noun
  • Medrano, according to the suit, went to a doctor after her arrest and was diagnosed with a nerve compression injury in her left wrist and thumb because of the zip ties.
    Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
  • The speech, seen as a rebuke of the steroid era, struck a nerve because Sandberg was never a big talker.
    Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 29 July 2025
Noun
  • The sweeping track was inspired in part by Rebecca Solnit’s 2014 collection Men Explain Things to Me, with the titular essay providing a scathing look at male arrogance and how conversations between men and women go awry.
    Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2025
  • But nothing in his tenure captures all at once the sense of arrogance, tone-deafness to the concerns of Floridians and obsession with keeping secrets.
    Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • When envisioning an effective leader, many people imagine a larger-than-life figure who commands attention through sheer charisma and audacity.
    Mark LaSota, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
  • This, mind you, at a time when Black men were killed for talking to White women, killed for looking at White women, killed for having the audacity to just coexist with White women.
    Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 19 July 2025
Noun
  • Temu is a low-cost online marketplace that has had the temerity to achieve popularity with American buyers while also being Chinese.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
  • The murmurs in the ballpark were that Dave Roberts wouldn’t have the temerity to not send Kershaw back out for the sixth inning.
    Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Effrontery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/effrontery. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on effrontery

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