temerity

Advancedzipf 2.42

Pronunciation

/tɪˈmɛrɪti/(tih-MER-ih-tee)

Part of speech

nounformal

Chinese

鲁莽；大胆（过分的、不考虑后果的勇气）

Definition

Excessive confidence or boldness; audacity.

Word family

  • temerarious/ˌtɛməˈrɛəriəs/(adj
  • rare)鲁莽的

Collocations

  • have the temerity
  • sheer temerity
  • temerity to suggest
  • unbelievable temerity

Examples

  1. 1.He had the temerity to ask for a raise after arriving late every day. (audacity)
  2. 2.She couldn't believe anyone would have the temerity to challenge the CEO publicly. (bold nerve)

Synonyms

  • audacity/ɔːˈdæsəti/— bold daring, often negative
  • nerve/nɜːv/— boldness, informal
  • impudence/ˈɪmpjʊdəns/— disrespectful boldness

Etymology

from Latin "temeritas" = rashness — "temere" = blindly, rashly