noun

effrontery

ih-FRUN-tuh-ree/ɪˈfrʌntəri/

Boldness that shows a shameless lack of respect.

He has the effrontery to take a fry despite the owner's raised hand.

At a café table, a man brazenly takes a fry from another man's plate despite the owner's clearly raised stop hand.

Etymology

French effronterie names shamelessness. Its underlying adjective probably traces to Latin effrons, “barefaced, shameless,” linking the face as an expression of shame with boldness that disregards propriety.

In context

Storytime Haven419:20

for impudent effrontery, or for swift and decisive action. He was a king among jewel thieves

The Place of Dragons: A Mystery 🐉🔍 | A Thrilling Suspenseful Adventure by William Le Queux

More examples

She has the effrontery to demand an apology after insulting us.
His effrontery leaves everyone at the meeting speechless.
They show remarkable effrontery by charging us to fix their own mistake.

Forms

effrontery

Similar words

audacity: Can suggest admirable daring rather than shameless disrespect.
impudence: Emphasizes rude disrespect, especially toward someone in authority.
gall: Informally emphasizes the nerve to make an outrageous demand.