audacious

[ aw-dey-shuhs ]

adjective

1. extremely bold or daring; recklessly brave; fearless:

   an audacious explorer.

   Synonyms: venturesome, dauntless, intrepid, courageous

   Antonyms: cowardly

2. extremely original; without restriction to prior ideas; highly inventive:

   an audacious vision of the city's bright future.

3. recklessly bold in defiance of convention, propriety, law, or the like; insolent; brazen.

   Synonyms: unabashed, forward, impertinent, shameless

4. lively; unrestrained; uninhibited:

   an audacious interpretation of her role.

audacious

/ ɔːˈdeɪʃəs; ɔːˈdæsɪtɪ /

adjective

1. recklessly bold or daring; fearless
2. impudent or presumptuous

Derived Forms

• auˈdaciousness, noun
• auˈdaciously, adverb

Other Words From

• au·dacious·ly adverb
• au·dacious·ness noun
• unau·dacious adjective
• unau·dacious·ly adverb
• unau·dacious·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of audacious¹

First recorded in 1540–50; audaci(ty) + -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of audacious¹

C16: from Latin audāx bold, from audēre to dare

Example Sentences

How do you bring her audacious wit, rampaging delivery and path-breaking fearlessness back to life?

From Los Angeles Times

The GP, who worked at Happy House Surgery in Sunderland, spent months planning the "audacious" attack, prosecutor Peter Makepeace KC said.

From BBC

Judge Mrs Justice Lambert said it was an "audacious" and extensively planned scheme to "kill a man in plain sight", which nearly worked.

From BBC

While sudden and unfair evictions have always been an unfortunate reality, tenants' rights groups warn that landlords have become even more audacious in their attempts to maximize profits and exploit renters since the chaos and desperation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From Salon

Coollider's Ross Bonaime agreed: "Queer is an audacious adaptation and yet another remarkable film in Guadagnino's increasingly impressive filmography, as well as a showcase for a captivating performance by Craig."

From BBC

Related Words

• adventurous
• bold
• courageous
• foolhardy
• resolute
• risky