brazenness

IPA/ˈbreɪznnəs/
KK[brˈezənəs]IPA/ˈbreɪznnəs/

brazenness — noun

1. the quality of behaving in a bold, shameless way that deliberately shows no resp

1.nounC2
Definition

the quality of behaving in a bold, shameless way that deliberately shows no respect for accepted social rules or other people's feelings

Example

Nadia could not believe her colleague's brazenness in taking credit for work he had not done.

pattern: [possessive] brazenness in [verb]-ing

The thief's brazenness in stealing the painting during the museum's opening hours shocked the staff.

pattern: [possessive] brazenness in [verb]-ing

Common collocations
  • sheer brazenness
  • remarkable brazenness
  • astonishing brazenness
  • the brazenness of [someone/something]
  • [possessive] brazenness in [verb]-ing
  • the brazenness to [verb]
Synonyms
  • shamelessness

    very close in meaning; brazenness adds the sense of doing something openly and obviously, not just feeling no shame

  • audacity

    can be positive or negative; brazenness is always negative and disapproving

  • impudence

    more specifically about rude or disrespectful behaviour towards someone in authority

  • effrontery

    more formal and literary; brazenness is slightly less formal and more common in everyday criticism

Antonyms
  • timidity

    opposite: showing fear or hesitation rather than bold confidence

  • modesty

    opposite: humility and restraint, rather than shameless self-promotion

  • discretion

    opposite: careful behaviour that avoids embarassment or offence

Grammar Patterns

the brazenness of [someone/something]

[possessive] brazenness in [verb]-ing

Usage Note

Strongly negative — used to criticise someone who openly breaks social rules or conventions without shame. Often appears in the patterns 'the brazenness of [someone]' or '[possessive] brazenness in [verb]-ing'. Frequently modified by adjectives such as sheer, remarkable, or astonishing.

Common Mistakes

I admire her brazenness in asking for what she wants.
I admire her boldness in asking for what she wants.
'brazenness' is always negative and disapproving, so it does not fit a compliment.
His brazenness in the meeting was refreshing.
His directness in the meeting was refreshing.
'brazenness' sounds like criticism, not praise.

Word family

  • brazen
    adjectiveC1
  • brazenly
    adverbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Brazenness, shamelessness, audacity, impudence, and effrontery all describe a lack of proper restraint, but they differ in tone and scope. Brazenness emphasises that the offending behaviour is done openly and visibly — the person makes no attempt to hide it. Shamelessness is broader; it describes an inner lack of shame regardless of whether the act is public or private. Audacity can be either positive ('the audacity to dream') or negative ('the audacity to lie to my face'), while brazenness is almost always negative. Impudence is more narrowly about disrespect toward someone in authority, like a student talking back to a teacher. Effrontery is a formal, literary word for insolent boldness that the speaker finds particularly outrageous. For example: 'The intern had the brazenness to wear shorts to the board meeting' (open disregard for rules) vs. 'He had the shamelessness to ask for a second loan without paying back the first' (no shame).

shamelessnessaudacity ↗impudence ↗effrontery

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • the brazenness to [verb]
  • with complete brazenness

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Brazenness comes from the adjective 'brazen', which originally meant 'made of brass' in Old English (from 'bræs', meaning brass). By the late 1500s, 'brazen' had taken on a figurative meaning: as hard, bright, and unyielding as brass — and therefore, a person who is brazen is one who is shamelessly bold, as if they have a face made of brass that cannot blush.