brazen
1 of 2adjective
bra·zen ˈbrā-zᵊn 
1
: made of brass
drinking from brazen cups
2
a
: sounding harsh and loud like struck brass
the horrible brazen voice of the fire bell
Elmer Davis
Elmer Davis b
: of the color of polished brass
3
: marked by shameless or disrespectful boldness
a brazen disregard for the rules
brazenly adverb
brazenness
ˈbrā-zᵊn-(n)əs
noun brazen
2 of 2verb
brazened; brazening ˈbrāz-niŋ
ˈbrā-zᵊn-iŋ
transitive verb
: to face with defiance or impudence —usually used in the phrase brazen it out
Synonyms
Adjective
- arch
- audacious
- bold
- bold-faced
- brash
- brassbound
- brassy
- brazen-faced
- cheeky
- cocksure
- cocky
- fresh
- impertinent
- impudent
- insolent
- nervy
- sassy
- saucy
- wise
Verb
- beard
- brave
- breast
- confront
- dare
- defy
- face
- outbrave
- outface
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective He exhibited a brazen disregard for other people's feelings. a brazen demand for special treatment just because she's rich Verb a filmmaker willing to brazen the criticism that such a violent film was sure to provoke
Recent Examples on the Web Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2022 Most of the colleges were closed to visitors, but MacAskill had perfected the flash of an old I.D. card and a brazen stride past a porter. Gideon Lewis-kraus, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2022 Avoiding the heady and idyllic world of adolescent coming-of-age tales ever-familiar to viewers, Spanish writer-director Carlota Pereda presents a brazen look into the psyches of youth; their faults, rage, and insecurity. Holly Jones, Variety, 23 Jan. 2022 The photographs of Bernd and Hilla Becher are at once brazen and self-effacing. Richard B. Woodward, WSJ, 10 Aug. 2022 Like Rohmer’s Rivière, Antoinette is both brazen and courageous but — significantly — without the cringe factor that made Shiva Baby a recognizable yet unpalatable portrait of modern wayward young women. Armond White, National Review, 27 July 2022 Before taking the stage for opening night of the Broadway revival on Thursday, Craig and Negga were more brazen, preferring not to buy into the superstition that some tragedy will occur if someone utters its name. John Carucci, ajc, 29 Apr. 2022 This seemingly gave developers license to be even more brazen in their attempts to piggyback off the success of the original. Jacob Siegal, BGR, 12 Jan. 2022 The problem has caught the attention of political leaders, particularly on the West Coast, where the attacks have been more concentrated and more brazen. Phil Wahba, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2021 Michael Stahl, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2022 The meddling was particularly brazen in Illinois, where the billionaire Pritzker and the Democratic Governors Association plowed nearly $35 million into ensuring Bailey’s nomination. Jonathan Martin, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Aug. 2022 The meddling was particularly brazen in Illinois, where the billionaire Mr. Pritzker and the Democratic Governors Association plowed nearly $35 million into ensuring Mr. Bailey’s nomination. New York Times, 1 Aug. 2022 Former Vice President Mike Pence is becoming increasingly brazen in his willingness to counter former President Donald Trump. Jill Colvin, Chron, 21 July 2022 Former Vice President Mike Pence is becoming increasingly brazen in his willingness to counter former President Donald Trump. Jill Colvin, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2022 Certainly, Palin’s equivocation on big issues can still be brazen. T.a. Frank, Washington Post, 12 July 2022 His actions were brazen, manipulative, controlling and coercive. Bill Donahue, Billboard, 8 June 2022 On Wednesday, the wild, brazen Detroit publication launched a free digital archive, featuring every issue from its 20-year run (1969-1989) that features bylines by Lester Bangs, Patti Smith, Cameron Crowe, Dave Marsh, and more. Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 1 June 2022 See More
Adjective
Lawyers for the comedians released stern response statements Thursday, branding the complaint filed Monday in Los Angeles a brazen money grab. Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2022 Most of the colleges were closed to visitors, but MacAskill had perfected the flash of an old I.D. card and a brazen stride past a porter. Gideon Lewis-kraus, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2022 Avoiding the heady and idyllic world of adolescent coming-of-age tales ever-familiar to viewers, Spanish writer-director Carlota Pereda presents a brazen look into the psyches of youth; their faults, rage, and insecurity. Holly Jones, Variety, 23 Jan. 2022 The photographs of Bernd and Hilla Becher are at once brazen and self-effacing. Richard B. Woodward, WSJ, 10 Aug. 2022 Like Rohmer’s Rivière, Antoinette is both brazen and courageous but — significantly — without the cringe factor that made Shiva Baby a recognizable yet unpalatable portrait of modern wayward young women. Armond White, National Review, 27 July 2022 Before taking the stage for opening night of the Broadway revival on Thursday, Craig and Negga were more brazen, preferring not to buy into the superstition that some tragedy will occur if someone utters its name. John Carucci, ajc, 29 Apr. 2022 This seemingly gave developers license to be even more brazen in their attempts to piggyback off the success of the original. Jacob Siegal, BGR, 12 Jan. 2022 The problem has caught the attention of political leaders, particularly on the West Coast, where the attacks have been more concentrated and more brazen. Phil Wahba, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2021 Verb
Across New York City, brazen pot dealers hock everything from pre-rolls to gummies on folding tables in parks, off gaudy trucks on major streets, and in storefronts painted purple, green, and gray. Michael Stahl, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2022 The meddling was particularly brazen in Illinois, where the billionaire Pritzker and the Democratic Governors Association plowed nearly $35 million into ensuring Bailey’s nomination. Jonathan Martin, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Aug. 2022 The meddling was particularly brazen in Illinois, where the billionaire Mr. Pritzker and the Democratic Governors Association plowed nearly $35 million into ensuring Mr. Bailey’s nomination. New York Times, 1 Aug. 2022 Former Vice President Mike Pence is becoming increasingly brazen in his willingness to counter former President Donald Trump. Jill Colvin, Chron, 21 July 2022 Former Vice President Mike Pence is becoming increasingly brazen in his willingness to counter former President Donald Trump. Jill Colvin, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2022 Certainly, Palin’s equivocation on big issues can still be brazen. T.a. Frank, Washington Post, 12 July 2022 His actions were brazen, manipulative, controlling and coercive. Bill Donahue, Billboard, 8 June 2022 On Wednesday, the wild, brazen Detroit publication launched a free digital archive, featuring every issue from its 20-year run (1969-1989) that features bylines by Lester Bangs, Patti Smith, Cameron Crowe, Dave Marsh, and more. Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 1 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Verb
Middle English brasen, from Old English bræsen, from bræs brass
First Known Use
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
circa 1555, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing brazen
Kids Definition
brazen
adjective
bra·zen ˈbrā-zᵊn
1
: made of brass
2
: sounding loud and usually harsh
brazen voices
3
: done or acting in a very bold and shocking way without shame He's a brazen liar.
brazening
verb
as in confronting
to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage a filmmaker willing to brazen the criticism that such a violent film was sure to provoke Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- confronting
- facing
- outbraving
- daring
- withstanding
- braving
- defying
- breasting
- standing up to
- resisting
- encountering
- meeting
- challenging
- bearding
- outfacing
- fighting
- facing up (to)
- affronting
- fronting
- approaching
- standing
- opposing
- accosting
- combating
- battling
- cornering
- repelling
- squaring (off)
- contending (with)
- combatting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- avoiding
- shirking
- shaking
- sidestepping
- shunning
- dodging
- eschewing
- escaping
- evading
- ducking
- eluding
- funking