impudence
gb/ɪmpjˈudəns/ us/ɪmpjˈudəns/
C1
English
~ 9000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
action
1
rude, disrespectful boldness
very rude behavior or words that do not show respect, especially to someone important or older
Usage pattern:
[someone] has the impudence to [verb]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'impudence' with 'impatience' or 'imprudence' because they look similar. 'Impudence' means rude lack of respect; 'impatience' means not wanting to wait; 'imprudence' (less common) means not being careful or wise. Some learners also think 'impudence' is positive, like 'confidence', but it always has a negative, disrespectful feeling.
Synonyms
insolence (Very close in meaning; also formal, and often used for rude behavior toward authority.)
|
cheek (Informal British English; sounds more casual or humorous than 'impudence'.)
|
audacity (Can be negative like 'impudence', but may also sound admiringly brave in some contexts.)
Antonyms
respect (Shows polite behavior and regard for others instead of rude boldness.)
|
deference (Polite, careful respect toward someone in authority, the opposite attitude of impudence.)
Collocations
have the impudence to
|the sheer impudence
|his/her/their impudence
|punished for his impudence
|shocked by the impudence
|such impudence
Themes
social
|emotions
|communication
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The student’s impudence toward the teacher shocked the whole class.
- He had the impudence to interrupt the judge and call the trial a joke.
- She was fired for her repeated impudence to senior managers.
- I will not tolerate such impudence in my own house.
- With astonishing impudence, they demanded a refund after breaking the item themselves.
Learner examples
- The boy’s impudence made his parents very angry.
- She showed impudence when she shouted at her boss.
- He had the impudence to laugh at the old man.
- The teacher was surprised by the child’s impudence.
- They were punished for their impudence in class.
Noun
formal
C2
state
2
shameless lack of embarrassment
a way of thinking or acting that shows no shame or no feeling that your bad behavior is wrong
Usage pattern:
the impudence of [someone]/[something]
Synonyms
shamelessness (Focuses on not feeling shame; very close in meaning to this sense of 'impudence'.)
|
brazeness (Similar idea of shocking lack of shame, often with a sense of open, bold behavior.)
Antonyms
modesty (Includes feeling shame or reserve about improper behavior, the opposite attitude of brazen impudence.)
|
remorse (Strong regret and guilt, contrasting with the lack of shame implied by impudence.)
Collocations
the sheer impudence of
|breathtaking impudence
|the impudence of the claim
|his impudence in lying
|accuse [someone] of impudence
Themes
social
|morality
|emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The sheer impudence of their lies left the audience speechless.
- I could hardly believe his impudence in asking for a promotion after such poor work.
- With breathtaking impudence, she denied all responsibility despite the clear evidence.
- The impudence of the proposal showed how little they cared about public opinion.
Learner examples
- The impudence of his behavior shocked his family.
- I was surprised by the impudence of her question.
- With great impudence, he said he had done nothing wrong.
- The impudence of their request made everyone angry.
Grammar
Dictionary form
impudence
IPA
GB/ɪmpjˈudəns/
US/ɪmpjˈudəns/
Syllables & stress
im - pudence (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pudence)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: impudence
- Plural: impudence
Word family
Core family
impudent
adjective C1
impudently
adverb
Expressions
have the impudence to
1/hˈæv ðə ɪmpjˈudəns tə/
fixed phrase
formal
dare rudely to do something
to do something rude or very disrespectful, in a way that surprises or angers other people
Examples
- He had the impudence to tell his boss that the company was badly run.
- They even had the impudence to demand an apology from us.
- She had the impudence to arrive an hour late and then complain about the food.
the sheer impudence of
1/ðə ʃˈɪɹ ɪmpjˈudəns əv/
fixed phrase
formal
extreme, shocking impudence
used to say that someone’s rude or shameless behavior is very strong and surprising
Examples
- We were stunned by the sheer impudence of his remarks.
- The sheer impudence of their demand made the negotiators walk out.