effrontery

shameless boldness or nerve

Roots

  • e- / ex-: out, out of, away, or forth
  • front: face, forehead, or forward side

Other words with the front root

  • affront: an insult or open offense
  • front: the face or forward side

Effrontery is boldness with the face uncovered: no blush, no hesitation, no shame.

His effrontery stunned the room; he demanded credit for work he had ignored.

Effrontery has a barefaced feeling. Picture someone doing the rude thing openly and expecting the room to accept it.

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