temerity

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

n. rashness, boldness, audacity, recklessness, daring, nerve, gall, brass (sl.), cheek (sl.).

II

(Roget's IV) n.

Syn. 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 .

Ant. prudence*, caution, deliberation.

Syn.- 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

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) (VOCABULARY WORD) n.

[tuh MER i tee]

foolhardy boldness, recklessness.

I can't believe he had the temerity to scold the boss.

SYN.: rashness, boldness, recklessness, foolhardiness, gall, carelessness, audacity, indiscretion, nerve, *balls, precipitateness, *chutzpah, impudence.

ANT.: timidity, cautiousness, cowardice, judiciousness

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) noun Foolhardy boldness or disregard of danger: brashness, fooihardiness, incautiousness, rashness, recklessness, temerariousness. See CAREFUL.