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temerity Definition

te·mer·ity (tə mer′ə tē)

noun

foolish or rash boldness; foolhardiness; recklessness

Etymology: ME temeryte < L temeritas < temere, rashly, blindly < IE base *tem-, dark > OS thimm, dark, L tenebrae, darkness

temerity Synonyms

temerity

n.

audacity, effrontery, boldness, hardihood, rashness, presumption, overconfidence, gall, nerve, cheek, recklessness, venturesomeness, precipitancy, precipitation, hastiness, heedlessness, foolhardiness, thoughtlessness, carelessness, indiscretion, imprudence, impetuosity; see also rudeness.

Antonyms prudence*, caution*, deliberation.

temerity refers to a rashness or foolish boldness that results from underrating the dangers or failing to evaluate the consequences he had the temerity to criticize his employer; audacity suggests either great presumption or defiance of social conventions, morals, etc. shocked at the audacity of his proposal; effrontery, always derogatory in usage, connotes shamelessness or insolence in defying the rules of propriety, courtesy, etc. his effrontery in addressing the teacher by her first name; nerve, cheek, and gall are colloquial equivalents of effrontery, but nerve and cheek usually suggest mere impudence or sauciness and gall, unmitigated insolence

temerity Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • have: Most runners don't have the temerity to enter the Reebok Cross Country at Cardiff Castle, let alone dress for the occasion.

Adjective modifier

  • own: The exuberant cry fades, stills, rises to an exultant roar and the creature bolts, startled by its own temerity.

Browse dictionary entries near temerity

  1. ‹ temerarious
  2. ‹ temblor
  3. ‹ Telugu
  4. ‹ Telstar
  5. ‹ telson
  6. ‹ telpherage
  7. ‹ telpher
  8. ‹ telos
  9. ‹ telophase
  10. ‹ telomere
  1. temp ›
  2. temp. ›
  3. Temp Files ›
  4. Tempe ›
  5. tempeh ›
  6. temper ›
  7. tempera ›
  8. temperament ›
  9. temperamental ›
  10. temperamentally ›