Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Impudence

Im′pu-dence

(ĭm′pū̍-dens)
,
Noun.
[L.
impudentia
: cf. F.
impudence
. See
Impudent
.]
The quality of being impudent; assurance, accompanied with a disregard of the presence or opinions of others; shamelessness; forwardness; lack of modesty.
Clear truths that their own evidence forces us to admit, or common experience makes it
impudence
to deny.
Locke.
Syn. – Shamelessness; audacity; insolence; effrontery; sauciness; impertinence; pertness; rudeness.
Impudence
,
Effrontery
,
Sauciness
. Impudence refers more especially to the feelings as manifested in action. Effrontery applies to some gross and public exhibition of shamelessness. Sauciness refers to a sudden pert outbreak of impudence, especially from an inferior. Impudence is an unblushing kind of impertinence, and may be manifested in words, tones, gestures, looks, etc. Effrontery rises still higher, and shows a total or shameless disregard of duty or decorum under the circumstances of the case. Sauciness discovers itself toward particular individuals, in certain relations; as in the case of servants who are saucy to their masters, or children who are saucy to their teachers. See
Impertinent
, and
Insolent
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Impudence

IM'PUDENCE

,
Noun.
[L. impudens; in and pudens, from pudeo, to be ashamed.] Shamelessness; want of modesty; effrontery; assurance accompanied with a disregard of the opinions of others.
Those clear truths, that either their own evidence forces us to admit, or common experience makes it impudence to deny.

Definition 2024


impudence

impudence

English

Noun

impudence (countable and uncountable, plural impudences)

  1. The quality of being impudent, not showing due respect.
  2. Impudent language, conduct or behavior.
    • 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 2, in The Mirror and the Lamp:
      That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired. And if the arts of humbleness failed him, he overcame you by sheer impudence.

Synonyms

Translations


French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɛ̃.py.dɑ̃s/
  • Homophone: impudences

Noun

impudence f (plural impudences)

  1. impudence