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Meaning & use

brazen

adjective, verb·Advanceddisapproving

Last updated

UK/ˈbreɪzən/
US/ˈbreɪzən/
Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparabledisapproving

    Showing no shame or fear of being judged, especially when doing something wrong or rude.

    Grammar: Comes before a noun or after a linking verb: a brazen lie, he was brazen.

    Patterns

    • a brazen attempt to do something
    • be brazen about something

    The thief made a brazen escape in broad daylight.

    It was a brazen lie, and everyone knew it.

    She was brazen about taking credit for others' work.

  2. verbphrasal verbinformal

    To face a difficult or embarrassing situation boldly, usually in the phrase brazen it out.

    Grammar: Used with it and out: brazen it out.

    Patterns

    • brazen it out

    Caught in the lie, he tried to brazen it out.

    She brazened it out and walked past the reporters.

    There was nothing to do but brazen it out.

Word forms

comparativemore brazen
superlativemost brazen
verb past tensebrazened
verb -ing formbrazening

Common combinations

a brazen lie
He told a brazen lie to the officers.
brazen disregard
They acted in brazen disregard for the rules.
a brazen robbery
A brazen robbery took place at noon.
brazen it out
He brazened it out until the meeting ended.
brazen attempt
It was a brazen attempt to dodge the bill.

Synonyms and how they differ

shameless
Shameless stresses that the person feels no guilt at all, while brazen emphasizes openness and boldness.
audacious
Audacious can be admiring and suggests daring, whereas brazen is almost always negative.
barefaced
Barefaced describes something done openly with no attempt to hide it, and is used mostly for lies.
bold
Bold is mostly positive or neutral and lacks the sense of wrongdoing.

Opposites

timidbashfulshy

Word family

brazenly adverb
in a shameless way
brazenness noun
shameless boldness
brass noun
the metal; old root of the word, and informal for nerve

Commonly confused: brazen or brazing?

brazen vs brazing

Brazing is a way of joining metal with heat. It is unrelated to brazen behavior.

Practice

The driver made a ___ attempt to bribe the officer in front of the camera.

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