1 brazen | Definition of brazen

brazen

adjective
braĀ·​zen | \ Ėˆbrā-zįµŠn How to pronounce brazen (audio) \

Definition of brazen

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : made of brass drinking from brazen cups
2a : sounding harsh and loud like struck brass the horrible brazen voice of the fire bell— Elmer Davis
b : of the color of polished brass
3 : marked by shameless or disrespectful boldness a brazen disregard for the rules

brazen

verb
brazened; brazening\ Ėˆbrāz-​niŋ How to pronounce brazening (audio) , Ėˆbrā-​zįµŠn-​iŋ \

Definition of brazen (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to face with defiance or impudence usually used in the phrase brazen it out

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Other Words from brazen

Adjective

brazenly adverb
brazenness \ Ėˆbrā-​zįµŠn-​(n)əs How to pronounce brazenness (audio) \ noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for brazen

Synonyms: Adjective

arch, audacious, bold, bold-faced, brash, brassbound, brassy, brazen-faced, cheeky, cocksure, cocky, fresh, impertinent, impudent, insolent, nervy, sassy, saucy, wise

Synonyms: Verb

beard, brave, breast, confront, dare, defy, face, outbrave, outface

Antonyms: Adjective

meek, mousy (or mousey), retiring, shy, timid

Antonyms: Verb

dodge, duck, funk, shirk, sidestep

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Examples of brazen in a Sentence

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
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Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

The thefts and subsequent sales were brazen and numerous. Lorraine Mirabella, baltimoresun.com, "Two Baltimore women convicted in $100,000 retail theft conspiracy," 13 June 2019 Another attendee, Yevgeny Snetkov, a 61-year-old engineer, described as brazen the way the authorities had prevented opposition candidates from running. Reuters, The Mercury News, "Moscow unrest: 685 detained in protest for free elections," 3 Aug. 2019 Months after his brazen killing, and despite findings from the UN and the CIA that point to the Saudi crown princeā€™s involvement, there has been no independent criminal investigation. Wired Staff, WIRED, "One Free Press Coalition Spotlights Journalists Under Attack," 1 Aug. 2019 Months after his brazen killing, and despite findings from the UN and the CIA that point to the Saudi crown princeā€™s involvement, there has been no independent criminal investigation. Lydia Belanger, Fortune, "The 10 Most Urgent Press Freedom Cases Around the World," 1 Aug. 2019 And yes, their effort is almost comically brazen, so cynical and ethically corrupt that both men deserve to have their portraits hung in Illinoisā€™ political roguesā€™ gallery. Eric Zorn, chicagotribune.com, "Column: Hypocritical ex-lawmakers show that you canā€™t shame the shameless," 5 July 2019 Five years of declining incomes, added to brazen corruption and injustice, make a combustible mix; the Kremlin is keen not to add a spark. The Economist, "What Ivan Golunovā€™s ordeal reveals about Russia," 13 June 2019 Meanwhile, Trumpā€™s abuse of presidential power, including his open defiance of the judiciary, becomes ever more brazen and alarming. Eugene Robinson, The Mercury News, "Robinson: After Mueller testifies, the impeachment question will demand an answer," 14 July 2019 But then, even when the house was new, few bothered to make that trip. The idea was always to do something a little bit radical, but the woman who built it had not planned for such a brazen experiment in the avant-garde. Mark Lamster, Dallas News, "The epic tale of the House of the Century, the trippy Texas icon that defies polite description," 12 July 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Neither Russia nor China has qualms about selling weapons to even brazen human-rights violators. Alexander Benard, WSJ, "America Needs to Sell More Weapons," 1 July 2018 The early April shooting was brazen even for a community that has been wracked by gun violence for decades. Charles Rabin, miamiherald, "4 shot, 2 dead, 2 arrests. Now Miami police searching for 3rd suspect | Miami Herald," 7 May 2018 Neither Russia nor China has qualms about selling weapons to even brazen human-rights violators. Alexander Benard, WSJ, "America Needs to Sell More Weapons," 1 July 2018 The early April shooting was brazen even for a community that has been wracked by gun violence for decades. Charles Rabin, miamiherald, "4 shot, 2 dead, 2 arrests. Now Miami police searching for 3rd suspect | Miami Herald," 7 May 2018 Langley, for his part, tried to brazen his way through the brouhaha. Douglas Perry, OregonLive.com, "Bizarre Portland vice scandal in 1950s riveted nation -- but did it lead to city becoming 'progressive'?," 12 Dec. 2017 Despite his reputation, many experts agree that behind the bombast and cult of personality lies a rational, if brazen, leader who sees nuclear weapons as his only hope for survival. Michael Holtz, The Christian Science Monitor, "How Kim rules: What the North Korean leader's unexpected directions for his country mean for the US," 28 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'brazen.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of brazen

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1555, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for brazen

Adjective and Verb

Middle English brasen, from Old English brƦsen, from brƦs brass

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More Definitions for brazen

brazen

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of brazen