bold-faced

American

[bohld-feyst] / ˈboʊldˌfeɪst /

adjective

impudent; brazen.

He had the bold-faced effrontery to ask for a raise.
Printing. (of type) having thick, heavy lines.

Other Word Forms

bold-facedly adverb
bold-facedness noun

Etymology

Origin of bold-faced

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For years, critics of Chinese President Xi Jinping have shared images of Winnie the Pooh to signal their opposition online, where more bold-faced criticism could face censorship.

From BBC • Dec. 27, 2025

Outright splendor gives way to bold-faced promotion in an annex gallery, housed in MAD’s grand, soaring nave.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025

It’s the first of a “50-state challenge” to find bold-faced donors willing to give to the accounts of children in their state, Bessent said.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 17, 2025

The O’Mearas and their children, also theater employees, welcomed the bold-faced names, but that didn’t mean they got special treatment.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2025

Even Radio Tokyo, still broadcasting its usual mixture of American music, bold-faced lies, and threats, brought a smile to most people’s faces.

From "Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two" by Joseph Bruchac

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023