adjective
impudent
IM-pyuh-dunt/ˈɪmpjədənt/
Boldly rude and disrespectful.
The impudent customer sticks her tongue out at the offended café worker.
Etymology
Latin pudens described someone ashamed or modest; the negative prefix reverses that quality. Impudent thus means shameless or brazen, connecting lack of modest restraint with boldly disrespectful conduct.
In context
Did not this impudent attorney stop me in the public street and accuse me of theft before my very servants?
More examples
- She gives an impudent laugh when asked to apologize.
- The customer complains about the clerk's impudent tone.
- It's impudent to demand a gift and then criticize it.
Forms
impudent · more impudent · most impudent
impudence noun — Bold rudeness showing a lack of respect.
impudently adverb — In a boldly rude and disrespectful manner.
Similar words
- insolent
- Emphasizes contemptuous disrespect, often toward someone in authority.
- impertinent
- Emphasizes rudeness or intrusiveness that oversteps social boundaries.
- brazen
- Emphasizes open shamelessness, not necessarily rudeness or disrespect.