1 impudent | Definition of impudent

impudent

adjective
im·​pu·​dent | \ ˈim-pyÉ™-dÉ™nt How to pronounce impudent (audio) \

Definition of impudent

1 : marked by contemptuous or cocky boldness or disregard of others : insolent
2 obsolete : lacking modesty

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Other Words from impudent

impudently adverb

Examples of impudent in a Sentence

As in the sixties, being young then was in itself an empowerment; writing under Harding and Coolidge was impudent fun. — John Updike, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 1988 Or it was he who was bruiting it about, with his princely dark head thrown back in impudent laughter, that he was going to be king. — Joseph Heller, God Knows, 1984 When I refused to be the child they knew and accepted me to be, I was called impudent and my muteness sullenness. — Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, 1969 The boy was punished for his impudent behavior. the guest's impudent inquiries about the cost of just about everything we had in the house
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Recent Examples on the Web

The flies were so many, and so impudent, that the students gave up swatting them from their faces. David M. Halbfinger, New York Times, "Touring the Israeli Occupation: Young U.S. Jews Get an Unflinching View," 10 July 2019 On occasion, Donald Trump has made impudent remarks, which rather than raising awareness or opening a dialogue, have tended to affirm unconscious biases. Gene Baur, Fortune, "Immigrant Farm Workers Endure Inhumane Conditions. Here’s What We Can Do," 8 June 2018 Cruyff was a master of flicks, feints, impudent shots and passes that described arcing lines of beauty. The Economist, "When drama and beauty turn the World Cup into art," 7 June 2018 Among people close to Trump, Hicks was sometimes viewed as a moderating force on a nontraditional and impudent president, though that role has sometimes been overstated. Kevin Liptak, CNN, "Trump's 'mini me' could (partly) fill Hicks' void," 30 Mar. 2018 Closer to the end, Banda de Turistas's psychedelic sound entranced the audience enough to finally give way to one of the new stars on the rise: Rey Hindú, who were impudent and irreverent, in a good way, of course. Billboard Argentina, Billboard, "Argentina's Cosquín Rock 2018: Unforgettable Blend of Classic, Upcoming Artists," 23 Feb. 2018 The impudent glee of Gorsuch’s supporters may account for the leaden feeling that assails me as the first Monday in October, which opens the Supreme Court’s 2017-28 term, bears down upon us. Garrett Epps, The Atlantic, "America's Red and Blue Judges," 25 Sep. 2017 Geoffrey Rush plays Einstein as a scholarly older man, Johnny Flynn as a more impudent younger one. Kathryn Shattuck, New York Times, "What’s on TV Tuesday: ‘Genius’ and ‘Great News’," 25 Apr. 2017 As with contemporaneous punk music, sheer nerve rocketed impudent twenty-somethings to stardom on New York’s downtown scene. The New Yorker, "Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s," 31 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'impudent.' 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 impudent

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

History and Etymology for impudent

Middle English, from Latin impudent-, impudens, from in- + pudent-, pudens, present participle of pudēre to feel shame

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More Definitions for impudent

impudent

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of impudent

formal : failing to show proper respect and courtesy : very rude

impudent

adjective
im·​pu·​dent | \ ˈim-pyÉ™-dÉ™nt How to pronounce impudent (audio) \

Kids Definition of impudent

: bold and disrespectful : very rude an impudent remark an impudent child

Other Words from impudent

impudently adverb

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More from Merriam-Webster on impudent

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for impudent

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Britannica English: Translation of impudent for Arabic Speakers