audacious
gb/ɔdˈeɪʃəs/ us/ɔdˈeɪʃəs/
C1
English
~ 9600
Senses
0 senses
adjective
C1
property
1
very bold and willing to risk
Very bold and not afraid to take big risks or try new, surprising ideas or actions.
Usage pattern:
[someone] makes an audacious [plan/move/decision]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "audacious" is always negative. In this sense it is often positive or admiring, especially for brave plans, ideas, and goals. Also, some confuse it with "loud" or "annoying," which belong more to the disrespectful sense or to other words like "obnoxious."
Synonyms
bold (General word for not being afraid to take risks; slightly less strong and dramatic than "audacious.")
|
daring (Emphasizes taking big risks, often in an exciting or admirable way.)
|
fearless (Focuses on not feeling fear, without always implying creativity or surprise.)
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gutsy (Informal; stresses courage and nerve rather than originality.)
Antonyms
cautious (Describes someone who avoids risk and moves carefully, the opposite of audacious risk-taking.)
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timid (Suggests fear and lack of confidence, the emotional opposite of being audacious.)
Collocations
audacious plan
|audacious goal
|audacious move
|audacious experiment
|audacious strategy
|audacious ambition
Themes
personality
|risk
|business
|creativity
|core_vocabulary
|work
Examples
- The startup's audacious plan to challenge the biggest tech companies caught investors' attention.
- In an audacious move, she quit her secure job to launch her own fashion label.
- The director is known for his audacious films that break traditional storytelling rules.
- They set an audacious goal of reaching one million users in their first year.
- Climbing the north face in winter was an audacious decision, even for experienced mountaineers.
Learner examples
- She made an audacious plan to start a new company.
- It was an audacious move to speak first in the meeting.
- The team has an audacious goal to win the world title.
- His audacious idea changed how people used their phones.
adjective
C1
property
2
shockingly bold and disrespectful
Very bold in a rude way, not showing respect for people, rules, or normal limits.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is audacious to [do/say something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use this sense when they only want to say "brave" or "confident." When you want to praise someone's courage, use words like "brave" or the positive sense of "audacious." Use this sense only when the boldness is rude, shocking, or shows no respect.
Synonyms
brazen (Stresses shameless, open rudeness or disrespect; often slightly stronger than "audacious.")
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impudent (Formal; focuses on showing a lack of proper respect, especially toward authority.)
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cheeky (Informal (esp. British); often used for playful or mildly rude boldness, sometimes more light-hearted than "audacious.")
Antonyms
respectful (Shows proper care for others' feelings or status, the opposite of audacious rudeness.)
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deferential (Formal; emphasizes polite submission to another's wishes or authority, contrasting with bold challenge.)
Collocations
audacious remark
|audacious request
|audacious behavior
|audacious question
|audacious attempt
|how audacious of [someone]
Themes
behavior
|politeness
|conflict
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
|relationships
Examples
- It was audacious of him to demand a raise after arriving late all week.
- She made an audacious remark about her boss in front of the entire team.
- The journalist's audacious questions angered the government spokesperson.
- What an audacious request—to borrow my car for a month without paying!
- He was stunned by the student's audacious challenge to the professor's authority.
Learner examples
- It was audacious of you to talk to the teacher like that.
- She asked an audacious question that shocked everyone.
- His audacious remark made the manager very angry.
- Many people thought the protest was too audacious and rude.
Grammar
Dictionary form
audacious
IPA
GB/ɔdˈeɪʃəs/
US/ɔdˈeɪʃəs/
Syllables & stress
au - da - cious (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (da)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: audacious
Word family
Expressions
an audacious plan
1/ən ɔdˈeɪʃəs plˈæn/
fixed phrase
very bold or risky plan
A plan that is very bold and involves big risks or new, surprising ideas.
Examples
- Launching a product in every major market at once was an audacious plan.
- Their audacious plan to rebuild the entire district won unexpected support.
be audacious enough to
1/bˈi ɔdˈeɪʃəs ɪnˈʌf tə/
fixed phrase
to be bold enough to do
To be very bold and not afraid to do something that seems risky, rude, or surprising.
Examples
- Who would be audacious enough to question her expertise in public?
- He was the only one in the room who was audacious enough to say what everyone else was thinking.