adj

brazen

BRAY-zuhn

Brazen (adj) means Shockingly bold or shameless, without any embarrassment. Example: “It was a brazen attempt to cheat the system in broad daylight.”

adj

Shockingly bold or shameless, without any embarrassment.

"It was a brazen attempt to cheat the system in broad daylight."

"She gave a brazen denial even though everyone had seen her do it."

Made of, or resembling, brass.

"The old clock had a brazen face worn smooth by handling."

verb

To face a difficult or embarrassing situation with bold confidence, usually as "brazen it out".

"He brazened it out, insisting he'd done nothing wrong."

How to use brazen

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDoing something outrageous or dishonest without any shame or hesitation.

Memory tip

Think "brass neck" — brazen behaviour is bold enough to seem almost shameless.

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Common pairings

brazen lie brazen attempt brazen it out

Word forms

more brazen comparative, brazener comparative, brazened past tense, brazens singular, most brazen superlative, brazenest superlative

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It was a _____ attempt to cheat the system in broad daylight.

Etymology

From Old English bræsen, "made of brass." The modern sense of "shamelessly bold" grew out of the older figurative idea of a face like brass — hard, shiny and unmoved by shame.

Origin: Old English

Frequently asked questions

What does “brazen” mean?

The word “brazen” means shockingly bold or shameless, without any embarrassment. In plain terms, doing something outrageous or dishonest without any shame or hesitation.

How do you pronounce “brazen”?

“Brazen” is pronounced BRAY-zuhn (/ˈbɹeɪ̯zən/ in IPA).

How do you use “brazen” in a sentence?

Here is “brazen” used in a sentence: “It was a brazen attempt to cheat the system in broad daylight.”

What part of speech is “brazen”?

Depending on how it is used, “brazen” can be an adjective and a verb.

Where does the word “brazen” come from?

The word “brazen” comes from Old English. From Old English bræsen, "made of brass." The modern sense of "shamelessly bold" grew out of the older figurative idea of a face like brass — hard, shiny and unmoved by shame.

How many meanings does “brazen” have?

“Brazen” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: shockingly bold or shameless, without any embarrassment.