audacious

/ɔːˈdeɪʃəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ɔːˈdeɪʃəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ȯ-ˈdā-shəs/ (ame, mw)

audacious — adjective

  • audaciouspositive
  • more audaciouscomparative
  • most audacioussuperlative

1. willing to take bold risks or do things that surprise or shock others, often in

1.形容詞C1
釋義

willing to take bold risks or do things that surprise or shock others, often in a way that earns admiration rather than disapproval

例句

The captain praised the crew for their audacious rescue of the stranded hikers during the storm.

audacious rescue

Yuna's audacious plan to start a farm on the dry hillside surprised everyone in the village.

同義詞
  • daring

    similar intensity but neutral-positive; 'daring' often implies courage, while 'audacious' implies the action may shock others

  • bold

    less extreme than audacious; 'bold' can simply mean confident without the shock element

  • fearless

    emphasises absence of fear rather than the risk-taking or shocking quality

反義詞
  • cautious

    avoids risk rather than seeking it

  • timid

    lacks the confidence to take bold action

文法句型

audacious + noun (attributive)

be + audacious (predicative)

audacious + to-infinitive

用法筆記

Predicative use (The plan is audacious) and attributive use (an audacious plan) are equally common. Subject may be a person, an action, or a creative work.

常見錯誤

❌He made an audacious mistake.
✅He made a daring mistake.
💡'audacious' describes a deliberate risk, not an accidental error.
❌The kitten was audacious to jump off the sofa.
✅The kitten was brave to jump off the sofa.
💡'audacious' is too strong for small, everyday risks.

2. showing too much self-confidence, to the point where it comes across as rude or

2.形容詞C1
釋義

showing too much self-confidence, to the point where it comes across as rude or offensive to other people

例句

Folami asked an audacious question about the manager's bonus during the team meeting.

audacious question

The landlord made an audacious claim that the leak was the tenant's fault, not the building's.

同義詞
  • brazen

    stronger and more openly shameless than audacious

  • impertinent

    more formal; focuses on lack of proper respect to an authority figure

  • insolent

    more aggressive; implies deliberate rudeness rather than just overconfidence

反義詞

文法句型

audacious + noun (attributive)

be + audacious (predicative)

用法筆記

This sense is always negative. Distinguish from the DARING sense by context: if the action offends or shows disrespect, it belongs here. Common in criticism of speech (audacious remark, audacious claim).

常見錯誤

❌She was audacious to speak up at the meeting.' (when the context is positive)
✅She was bold to speak up at the meeting.
💡Use sense 1 (DARING) when the action is admirable, not rude.