audacious
Say it: aw-DAY-shus /ɔːˈdeɪʃəs/ · adjective
What “audacious” means
Bold enough to take a surprising risk.
More precisely: Willing to take surprisingly bold risks; also, shockingly disrespectful.
Example: “It was an audacious move: a two-person startup bidding against Google.”
When to use it
When a plan or action takes a startlingly bold risk. Can express admiration or disapproval, depending on the situation.
It can also mean
It can also mean shockingly disrespectful, such as making an outrageous demand.
Similar words
bold, daring, brazen
Where it comes from
From Latin audax, audac-, 'bold'.
Quick check
A complete newcomer challenges the reigning chess champion to a public match, knowing how unlikely victory is. That's…
audacious or confident?
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audacious
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