Meaning & use
audacity
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Meanings
noununcountableapproving
Bold, daring courage in taking risks.
Grammar: Uncountable: it takes audacity.
Patterns
- the audacity of something
- have the audacity to do something
It took audacity to open a restaurant during the crisis.
The climbers admired the audacity of her plan.
His audacity won him the contract.
noununcountabledisapproving
Rude boldness that shows no respect or shame.
Grammar: Often in have the audacity to.
Patterns
- have the audacity to do something
He had the audacity to ask for a refund after eating the meal.
I can't believe the audacity of that remark.
She had the audacity to laugh at my mistake.
Common combinations
- have the audacity to
- He had the audacity to interrupt the speaker.
- sheer audacity
- The sheer audacity of the heist amazed police.
- show audacity
- The young chef showed audacity in her menu.
- the audacity of
- The audacity of the plan was thrilling.
- remarkable audacity
- She acted with remarkable audacity.
Synonyms and how they differ
- boldness
- Boldness is neutral and positive, while audacity may carry a hint of shock.
- nerve
- Nerve is informal and often criticizes rude behavior.
- cheek
- Cheek is British, lighter and more playful than audacity.
- daring
- Daring stresses courage without suggesting rudeness.
Opposites
Word family
- audacious adjective
- bold and daring
- audaciously adverb
- in a daring way
- audaciousness noun
- the quality of being daring
Commonly confused: audacity or audience? audacity or audible?
audacity vs audience
An audience is people watching; audacity is boldness.
audacity vs audible
Audible means able to be heard.
Practice
'She had the audacity to ask for a raise on her first day.' What does audacity suggest here?
Choose one answer.
Have the audacity to implies boldness that surprises or offends. Shyness and planning do not fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “audacity”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.