boldness
gb/bˈoʊldnəs/ us/bˈoʊldnəs/
B2
English
~ 7600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
property
1
confident courage to take risks
The quality of being very confident and not afraid to do new, difficult, or risky things.
Usage pattern:
the boldness to [do something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'boldness' with only physical courage. In modern usage it often means a confident, risk-taking attitude in speaking, thinking, or acting, not just in physical danger. Also, learners may say *'a boldness to do'*; the more natural pattern is 'the boldness to do [something]'.
Synonyms
bravery (Focuses more on not feeling fear in dangerous situations, while 'boldness' also includes confident, risk-taking behavior in everyday life.)
Antonyms
timidity (Describes being shy, afraid, or unwilling to take risks, which is the opposite of confident boldness.)
Collocations
the boldness to
|sheer boldness
|with remarkable boldness
|creative boldness
|the boldness of his plan
|admire her boldness
Themes
emotions
|personality
|work
|creativity
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- It took real boldness for her to quit her safe job and start her own business.
- His boldness in asking difficult questions impressed the interview panel.
- The success of the project came from the team's boldness in trying a completely new approach.
- She spoke with a boldness that surprised everyone who knew how quiet she used to be.
- The climber's boldness was clear when he continued despite the bad weather.
Learner examples
- He showed boldness when he talked to his boss about the problem.
- Starting a company at twenty shows a lot of boldness.
- Her boldness helped the team try new ideas.
- I admire the boldness of your decision.
- With new boldness, she said what she really thought.
Noun
C1
property
2
excessive, sometimes rude confidence
The quality of acting too free or too direct, in a way that can seem rude or shocking to other people.
Usage pattern:
be shocked by the boldness of [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners often think 'boldness' is always positive. In this sense, it can be negative, suggesting that someone has gone too far and is rude or shocking. Context and tone decide whether 'boldness' is praise or criticism.
Synonyms
audacity (Often suggests surprising nerve or disrespect for rules; similar negative nuance when 'boldness' is used this way.)
Antonyms
reserve (Describes holding back and behaving carefully in social situations, which contrasts with socially risky boldness.)
Collocations
shocked by his boldness
|the sheer boldness of his request
|sexual boldness
|unnecessary boldness
|criticized for her boldness
|a display of boldness
Themes
emotions
|social
|personality
|relationships
|communication
Examples
- I couldn't believe the boldness of his comment to the manager.
- Her boldness in flirting with her boss made some colleagues uncomfortable.
- They were offended by the boldness of the journalist's questions.
- He apologized later for the boldness of his joke.
- Some viewers complained about the film's boldness in showing such explicit scenes.
Learner examples
- The teacher was surprised by the student's boldness in class.
- Many people did not like the boldness of his words.
- Her boldness at the party made some guests unhappy.
- We were shocked by the boldness of his request for more money.
- Some thought his boldness was funny, but others thought it was rude.
Noun
B2
property
3
striking or strong visual/style quality
The quality of a design, color, or style that is very strong and easy to see, and that stands out from others.
Usage pattern:
the boldness of [a color / a design / a style]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'boldness' can only describe people. It is also often used for colors, designs, and art to show that something looks very strong and clear.
Synonyms
vividness (Focuses on bright, clear appearance; 'boldness' also suggests a deliberate, daring style choice.)
Antonyms
subtlety (Refers to gentle, not-easily-noticed effects, which is the opposite of strong, striking boldness in style.)
Collocations
the boldness of the design
|visual boldness
|stylistic boldness
|the boldness of the colors
|artistic boldness
|boldness in composition
Themes
art
|design
|fashion
|visual
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The boldness of the poster's colors made it stand out on the street.
- Critics praised the boldness of the building's modern design.
- Her clothes are simple in cut but remarkable for their boldness of pattern.
- The film is known for the boldness of its visual style.
- Some customers liked the boldness of the new logo, while others found it too aggressive.
Learner examples
- The boldness of the red wall changes the room.
- Many people love the boldness of his painting style.
- The dress is famous for the boldness of its colors.
- Designers talked about the boldness of the new phone design.
- I like the boldness of this simple but strong logo.
Noun
technical
B2
property
4
thickness level of text characters
In writing on a computer or in print, how thick and dark the letters are, like when you use bold text.
Usage pattern:
adjust the boldness of [the text / the font]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that 'boldness' can be used as a technical word for how heavy or thick text looks. In software interfaces, 'font weight' or 'bold' are more common, but 'boldness' sometimes appears in documentation or settings.
Synonyms
weight (In typography, 'weight' is the standard technical term; 'boldness' is more descriptive and less technical.)
Antonyms
lightness (In typography, lighter, thinner characters are the opposite of bold, heavy ones.)
Collocations
increase the boldness
|font boldness
|the boldness of the text
|adjust the boldness
|boldness setting
|control the boldness
Themes
technology
|design
|writing
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- You can change the boldness of the heading in the style settings.
- The designer adjusted the boldness of the font to improve readability on small screens.
- Increasing the boldness of key words helps them stand out in the document.
Learner examples
- Please reduce the boldness of this text; it is too dark.
- We changed the boldness of the title to make it easier to read.
- You can set the boldness of the font in this menu.
- The boldness of the letters is different in this new design.
- I like more boldness for short headings.
Grammar
Dictionary form
boldness
IPA
GB/bˈoʊldnəs/
US/bˈoʊldnəs/
Syllables & stress
bold - ness (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (bold)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: boldness
- Plural: boldness
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.