brazen
gb/bɹˈeɪzən/ us/bɹˈeɪzən/
B2
English
~ 9200
arcátlan, pimasz, kimagyarázza magát, végigtagad, sárgarézből készült, sárgarézszínű, rezes, érces
B2
1
Usage pattern:
[someone]/[something] is brazen about [something bad]
It was a brazen lie, told right to the manager’s face.
Ez egy arcátlan hazugság volt, amit egyenesen a menedzser szemébe mondott.
The company’s brazen disregard for safety laws shocked the public.
A cég biztonsági előírásokkal szembeni arcátlan közönye megdöbbentette a közvéleményt.
In a brazen move, he took credit for his colleague’s work.
The hackers made a brazen attempt to steal customer data in broad daylight.
Her brazen attitude toward the rules eventually got her fired.
Learner examples
He made a brazen plan to cheat on the test.
Arcátlan tervet eszelt ki, hogy puskázzon a dolgozatnál.
The boy gave a brazen answer to the teacher.
A fiú pimasz választ adott a tanárnak.
It was a brazen crime, done in front of many people.
People were angry about the politician’s brazen lies.
She showed a brazen lack of respect for the law.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "brazen" with "brave" or "bold". "Brazen" is almost always negative, suggesting shameless or morally wrong behavior done openly, while "brave" is positive and "bold" can be positive or neutral. Many also mispronounce it as /ˈbræzən/; the typical pronunciation is /ˈbreɪzən/ ("BRAY-zən").
Meaning
shamelessly bold and open
Collocations
brazen lie
|brazen theft
|brazen attempt
|brazen display
|brazen disregard
|brazen corruption
Synonyms
shameless (Focuses on not feeling shame; less about bold, public behavior.)
|
audacious (Suggests daring and risk-taking; can be positive or negative, while "brazen" is usually negative.)
|
impudent (Emphasizes rude lack of respect, often toward authority, and is more formal.)
Antonyms
ashamed (Shows the feeling that a brazen person clearly lacks.)
|
discreet (Suggests careful, quiet behavior, the opposite of brazen openness.)
Themes
character
|social_behavior
|ethics
|core_vocabulary
|emotions
Definition
Very bold in a bad way, not feeling or showing shame even when doing something wrong.
Openly and confidently bad or wrong, showing no sense of shame or embarrassment.
VERB
C1
2
végigtagad
C1
Usage pattern:
to brazen [something] out / to brazen it out
Despite the evidence against him, he tried to brazen it out in front of the board.
A terhelő bizonyítékok ellenére megpróbálta kimagyarázni magát az igazgatótanács előtt.
The government attempted to brazen out the scandal by denying everything.
A kormány azzal próbálta kimagyarázni magát a botrányból, hogy mindent tagadott.
She brazened out the criticism, smiling confidently as if nothing was wrong.
They chose to brazen out the accusations rather than issue an apology.
He brazened out the awkward meeting, acting as if the problem did not exist.
Learner examples
He lied but tried to brazen it out.
Hazudott, de megpróbálta kimagyarázni magát.
The company brazened out the bad news.
A cég megpróbálta kimagyarázni magát a rossz hírek nyomán.
She brazened out the problem and did not say sorry.
They decided to brazen out the scandal together.
He brazened out the question and changed the topic.
Common mistake:
Learners may use the verb without its usual patterns, saying *"brazen the problem"* instead of "brazen it out" or "brazen out the problem". This verb is mostly used in fixed expressions like "brazen it out" or "brazen out the scandal" and is rare in other structures.
Meaning
face something difficult shamelessly
Collocations
brazen it out
|brazen out the scandal
|brazen out the criticism
|brazen out accusations
Synonyms
tough it out (Informal and neutral; focuses on enduring difficulty, without the idea of shamelessness.)
|
brazen it out (Set phrase using the same verb; emphasizes continuing boldly in the face of blame.)
Antonyms
back down (Means to stop defending yourself or your position, instead of continuing boldly.)
Themes
social_behavior
|conflict
|work
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
To continue in a very bold, not-shy way during a bad or embarrassing situation, instead of saying sorry or stopping.
To deal with or get through an embarrassing or difficult situation by behaving in a very bold and shameless way instead of admitting fault or retreating.
C2
LITERARY
3
Usage pattern:
[brazen] [object]
The temple was guarded by two enormous brazen gates.
A templomot két hatalmas sárgaréz kapu őrizte.
In the center of the square stood a brazen statue of the hero.
A tér közepén a hős sárgaréz szobra állt.
Ancient texts describe a brazen serpent fixed to a pole.
Sunlight flashed on the brazen shields of the soldiers.
A brazen idol was placed on the altar, shining in the firelight.
Learner examples
The door had a brazen handle.
Az ajtón sárgaréz kilincs volt.
They saw a brazen statue in the old city.
Az óvárosban egy sárgaréz szobrot láttak.
The king wore a brazen crown on his head.
A brazen bowl sat on the table.
He cleaned the brazen lamp until it shone.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this meaning is common in modern speech, but it is now rare and mainly appears in older texts or in literary or religious style. In modern English, people usually say "brass" or "brass-colored" instead of "brazen" for material or color.
Meaning
made of brass or brass-colored
Collocations
brazen gates
|brazen idol
|brazen statue
|brazen shield
Synonyms
brass (More common as an attributive noun ("brass door") and less literary than "brazen".)
|
metallic (General word for any metal; does not specifically mean brass.)
Antonyms
wooden (Highlights an object made from an opposite kind of material, not metal.)
Themes
materials
|description
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Made from the metal brass, or looking like brass in color.
Made of brass, or having the appearance or color of brass.
C2
LITERARY
4
Usage pattern:
[brazen] [sound/voice/noise]
A brazen fanfare shattered the early-morning silence.
Egy rezes fanfár hasította szét a kora reggeli csendet.
The trumpet’s brazen notes echoed through the hall.
A trombita rezes hangjai visszhangoztak a teremben.
His brazen voice cut through the crowd’s chatter.
The brazen blare of horns announced the king’s arrival.
A brazen clangor rose from the metal workshop.
Learner examples
The band played a brazen song with many trumpets.
A zenekar egy rezes hangzású darabot játszott sok trombitával.
Her brazen voice filled the small room.
Érces hangja betöltötte a kis szobát.
We heard the brazen sound of horns in the street.
A brazen noise came from the metal gate.
The brazen music was exciting but very loud.
Common mistake:
This sense is rare, and learners may think "brazen" always describes people or behavior. When it describes sound, it focuses on loud, metallic noise, not on shame or boldness.
Meaning
harsh, loud, metallic in sound
Collocations
brazen voice
|brazen clangor
|brazen blare
|brazen fanfare
Synonyms
brassy (Very close in meaning, commonly used for harsh metallic sounds from instruments or voices.)
|
shrill (High-pitched and piercing, not necessarily metallic like "brazen".)
Antonyms
soft (Describes a gentle, quiet sound, the opposite of loud, hard "brazen" sounds.)
Themes
sound
|description
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Having a very loud, hard, metal-like sound, like trumpets or other brass instruments.
Having a loud, harsh, metallic sound, like that made by brass instruments.
Grammar
Dictionary form
brazen
IPA
GB/bɹˈeɪzən/
US/bɹˈeɪzən/
Syllables & stress
brazen (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (brazen)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: brazen
Verb
- Base: brazen
- 3rd Person Singular: brazens
- Present Participle: brazening
- Past: brazened
Word family
Forms
brazens
verb
brazening
verb
brazened
verb
Core family
brazenly
adverb
brazenness
noun
Expressions
brazen it out
1/bɹˈeɪzən ˈɪt ˈaʊt/
idiom
face difficulty with shameless boldness
To stay bold and act as if everything is fine in a bad or embarrassing situation, instead of saying you are wrong or sorry.
Examples
- Even after the report was published, the minister tried to brazen it out.
- She decided to brazen it out, smiling through the tough questions from reporters.
- They were clearly guilty, but they chose to brazen it out in court.
brazen out
1/bɹˈeɪzən ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
deal with something by being brazen
To get through a particular bad or embarrassing situation by acting very bold and not showing shame.
Examples
- The celebrity tried to brazen out the scandal with a few casual interviews.
- He attempted to brazen out the accusations, refusing to admit any mistake.
- The company brazened out the crisis instead of changing its policies.