The lawyer had the effrontery to speak before the judge. It means very bold and rude behavior.
Despite himself, the professor smiles at the young effrontery before him.
Effrontery is essentially "barefaced" insolence, audacity, temerity, or simply "nerve." It can be an insult or mere presumptuousness. It can take many forms, from the naive to the callously bold. The less calculating version is the chocolate-covered 4-year-old who insists he did not eat your candy bar. On the brazen side is the hurrying commuter who knocks you to the floor, and then insists you pay the cleaning bill for the coffee he spilled on his coat. Sometimes it is used to mean impudence, as to an authority or royalty. A tourist might display effrontery by telling the Queen to move her carriage so that he could get a snapshot of Westminster Abbey.
nerve, gall
A person demonstrates effrontery by showing boldness or audacity, often in a disrespectful or arrogant manner. This can be displayed through actions such as speaking out of turn, invading personal boundaries, or disregarding social norms without consideration for others.
Chutzpah is absolute cheek, nerve, effrontery. It is a Yiddish word, I believe.
Effrontery, enterprise, enterprising, endurance
The Hebrew and Yiddish word "hutspah" means effrontery; gall; cheekiness; nerve; shamelessness.
Impudence or boldness in confronting or in transgressing the bounds of duty or decorum; insulting presumptuousness; shameless boldness; barefaced assurance.
ef·ful·gence (ĭ-fŏŏl'jəns, ĭ-fŭl'-) Pronunciation Keyn. A brilliant radiance.effulgence. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved February 10, 2009, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/effulgenceSee link for more details
Daring; spirited; adventurous., Contemning the restraints of law, religion, or decorum; bold in wickedness; presumptuous; impudent; insolent., Committed with, or proceedings from, daring effrontery or contempt of law, morality, or decorum.
Artery, Archery, Tartary, Margery, Marjorie, Marjory, Harlotry, Quaternary,Infirmary, Sorcery, Mortuary, Ternary, Forgery, Carpentry, Lingerie, Mulberry, Effrontery, etc. For a complete list, please check out the attached link.
Answers to the exercises in the book: Completing the Sentence 1. picayune 2. allayed 3. inordinate 4. coterie 5. raiment 6. jettisoned 7. illusory 8. convivial 9. embellished 10. demur 11. indigent 12. felicitous 13. furtive 14. pertinacious 15. misanthrope 16. counterparts 17. bestial 18. garish 19. ephemeral 20. effrontery Synonyms: 1. pertinacious 2. raiment 3. coterie 4. jettisoned 5. felicitous 6. effrontery 7. illusory 8. allay 9. counterpart 10. depraved 11. demurred 12. misanthrope 13. embellished 14. picayune 15. ephemeral Antonyms: 16. furtive 17. inordinate 18. indigent 19. convivial 20. garish Choosing the Right Word: 1. inordinate 2. pertinacity 3. effrontery 4. ephemeral 5. garish 6. allay 7. picayune 8. convivial 9. illusory 10. demur 11. felicitous 12. embellish 13. raiment 14. misanthrope 15. indigent 16. counterpart 17. jettison 18. coterie 19. bestial 20. furtively