adjective

sassy

SASS-ee/ˈsæsi/

Boldly outspoken or self-assured.

The sassy older man strikes a pose with a mischievous grin.

An older man gives a cheeky, exaggerated pose: one hand planted on his hip, chin cocked, eyebrow raised, and a mischievous sideways grin, while flicking his other hand outward in playful dismissal.

Etymology

Sauce adds piquancy to food; figuratively, it added intensity to words or actions. Saucy developed from “resembling sauce” to “cheeky or impertinent,” the meaning carried into sassy.

In context

Naulo Facts0:22

terriers are known for their sassy personalities and their penchant for picking fights with much larger dogs

Terrier Breeds – Top 10 Popular Terrier Dogs

More examples

Her sassy reply makes everyone at the table laugh.
He gives the coach a sassy answer and earns a warning.
She brings a sassy confidence to every performance.

Forms

sassy · sassier · sassiest

sassiness noun — The quality of being outspoken or cheekily confident.

sassily adverb — In a boldly confident or cheeky manner.

Similar words

cheeky: Emphasizes playful disrespect rather than general bold confidence.
confident: Describes self-assurance without necessarily suggesting playfulness or disrespect.
impudent: Emphasizes rude disrespect, without the appealing liveliness sassy can suggest.