If you say that a person has the temerityto do something, you are annoyed about something they have done which you think showed a lack of respect.
[disapproval]
He has even had the temerity to invoke the names of Martin Luther King Jr and MalcolmX in defence of his actions.
...'difficult' patients who have the temerity to challenge their doctors' decisions.
Synonyms: audacity, nerve [informal], cheek, gall More Synonyms of temerity
temerity in British English
(tɪˈmɛrɪtɪ)
noun
rashness or boldness
Derived forms
temerarious (ˌtɛməˈrɛərɪəs)
adjective
Word origin
C15: from Latin temeritās rashness, from temere rashly
temerity in American English
(təˈmɛrəti)
noun
foolish or rash boldness; foolhardiness; recklessness
SYNONYMY NOTE: temerity refers to a rashness or foolish boldness that results from underrating the dangersor 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 rulesof propriety, courtesy, etc. [his effrontery in addressing the teacher by her first name]; nerve, cheek, gall1 are colloquial equivalents of , effrontery, but , nerve, cheek usually suggest mere impudence or sauciness and , gall1, unmitigated insolence
Word origin
ME temeryte < L temeritas < temere, rashly, blindly < IE base *tem-, dark > OS thimm, dark, L tenebrae, darkness
Examples of 'temerity' in a sentence
temerity
One of the German reporters had even had the temerity to suggest that Todd was undergoing plastic surgery.
Clive Barker COLDHEART CANYON (2001)
I admired his book and one day had the temerity to write and tell him so.
Holt, Victoria THE BLACK OPAL (2001)
Now that he had done it, he felt amazed at his own temerity in delivering such an ultimatum to the Coronal.
Robert Silverberg VALENTINE PONTIFEX (2001)
(noun)
Definition
boldness or audacity
patients who have the temerity to challenge their doctor
Synonyms
audacity
He had the audacity to look at his watch while I was talking.
nerve (informal)
He had the nerve to ask me to prove who I was.
cheek
I'm amazed they have the cheek to ask in the first place.
gall
She had the gall to suggest that I might lend her the money.
front
assurance
He led the orchestra with assurance.
pluck
Cynics might sneer at him but you have to admire his pluck.
boldness
recklessness
chutzpah (US, Canadian, informal)
impudence
One sister had the impudence to wear the other's clothes.
effrontery
He had the effrontery to turn up on my doorstep at 2 in the morning.
impulsiveness
rashness
brass neck (British, informal)
foolhardiness
sassiness (informal)
forwardness
I was taken aback by your forwardness.
heedlessness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of assurance
Definition
feeling of confidence
He led the orchestra with assurance.
Synonyms
confidence,
conviction,
courage,
certainty,
self-confidence,
poise,
assertiveness,
security,
faith,
coolness,
nerve,
aplomb,
boldness,
self-reliance,
firmness,
self-assurance,
certitude,
sureness,
self-possession,
positiveness,
assuredness
in the sense of cheek
Definition
impudence, boldness, or lack of respect
I'm amazed they have the cheek to ask in the first place.
Synonyms
impudence,
face (informal),
front,
nerve (informal),
sauce (informal),
gall (informal),
disrespect,
audacity,
neck (informal),
lip (slang),
temerity,
chutzpah (US, Canadian, informal),
insolence,
impertinence,
effrontery,
brass neck (British, informal),
brazenness,
sassiness (informal)
in the sense of effrontery
Definition
insolence or boldness
He had the effrontery to turn up on my doorstep at 2 in the morning.
Synonyms
insolence,
nerve (informal),
arrogance,
presumption,
face (informal),
front,
neck (informal),
cheek (informal),
assurance,
brass (informal),
gall (informal),
disrespect,
audacity,
boldness,
rudeness,
temerity,
chutzpah (US, Canadian, informal),
impertinence,
impudence,
brashness,
brass neck (British, informal),
shamelessness,
incivility,
cheekiness,
brazenness
Nearby words of
temerity
telling
telling-off
telltale
temerity
temper
temperament
temperamental
Synonyms of 'temerity'
temerity
Explore 'temerity' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of forwardness
I was taken aback by your forwardness.
Synonyms
impertinence,
cheek (informal),
familiarity,
boldness,
presumption,
chutzpah (US, Canadian, informal),
impudence,
brashness,
overconfidence,
immodesty,
shamelessness,
cheekiness,
brazenness,
pertness,
overfamiliarity
in the sense of gall
Definition
bold impudence
She had the gall to suggest that I might lend her the money.
Synonyms
impudence,
audacity,
insolence,
impertinence,
face (informal),
front,
neck (informal),
nerve (informal),
sauce (informal),
cheek (informal),
brass (informal),
boldness,
chutzpah (US, Canadian, informal),
effrontery,
brass neck (British, informal),
sauciness,
brazenness,
sassiness (US, informal)
in the sense of impudence
One sister had the impudence to wear the other's clothes.
Synonyms
boldness,
nerve (informal),
cheek (informal),
face (informal),
front,
neck (informal),
gall (informal),
lip (slang),
presumption,
audacity,
rudeness,
chutzpah (US, Canadian, informal),
insolence,
impertinence,
effrontery,
brass neck (British, informal),
shamelessness,
sauciness,
brazenness,
sassiness (informal),
pertness,
bumptiousness,
backchat (informal)
in the sense of nerve
Definition
impudence
He had the nerve to ask me to prove who I was.
Synonyms
impudence,
face (informal),
front,
neck (informal),
sauce (informal),
cheek (informal),
brass (informal),
gall,
audacity,
boldness,
temerity,
chutzpah (US, Canadian, informal),
insolence,
impertinence,
effrontery,
brass neck (British, informal),
brazenness,
sassiness (slang)
in the sense of pluck
Definition
courage
Cynics might sneer at him but you have to admire his pluck.