barefaced

American  

[bair-feyst] / ˈbɛərˌfeɪst /

adjective

1. with the face uncovered.

2. shameless; impudent; audacious.

   a barefaced lie.

   Synonyms:

   unabashed, bold, brazen

3. without concealment or disguise; boldly open.

   a barefaced approach.

   Synonyms:

   transparent, palpable, patent

---

barefaced British  

/ ˈbɛəˌfeɪst, ˈbɛəˌfeɪsɪdlɪ /

adjective

1. unconcealed or shameless

   a barefaced lie

2. with the face uncovered or shaven

---

Other Word Forms

• barefacedly adverb
• barefacedness noun

Etymology

Origin of barefaced

First recorded in 1580–90; bare ¹ + faced

Example Sentences

This August afternoon, she is on a video call from her home in Las Vegas, where the barefaced star shares a room with, as she describes it, “my Liberace piano” and a full-size carousel horse.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 3, 2025

They’d been so proud to march barefaced, and now the internet at large was doxing them.

From Slate • Feb. 10, 2025

Mr Khan's spokesperson previously said the circulated leaflets "peddle a barefaced lie".

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2024

For her self-pitying act, Ellis drew widespread disdain for her "crocodile tears" and "barefaced lies that could give a coyote gastric distress."

From Salon • Oct. 26, 2023

“You’ve said that three times now, and each time you’ve told a barefaced lie.”

From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English