temerity
Audacity without wisdom
Temerity is boldness or audacity that others may find excessive or reckless.
It often implies a willingness to take risks or make assertions that seem presumptuous: He had the temerity to question the CEO's judgment in front of the board.
The word carries a note of criticism—someone displaying temerity may be brave, but observers tend to view their behavior as overstepping appropriate limits.
Shameless, insolent boldness
- gallImpudent boldness or bitterness
- nerveSignal-carrying body fiber
- impudenceShameless boldness toward superiors
- brazennessShameless, defiant boldness
cheek · presumption · insolence · brashness · impertinence · chutzpah · pertness · sassiness
Fearless readiness to act
- daringAdventurous courage
- fearlessnessComplete lack of dread
- nerveSignal-carrying body fiber
- pluckSpirit or yank
spunk · gutsiness · mettle · backbone · intrepidity · bravery · fortitude · valor
Reckless bravery, unwise daring
- rashnessImprudent haste in action
- imprudenceUnwise decision-making
- heedlessnessFailure to notice danger
- carelessnessInattention causing mistakes
thoughtlessness · incaution · precipitousness · hastiness · impetuosity · indiscretion · unwiseness · injudiciousness
Defying workplace authority
- rebelliousnessTendency toward defiant resistance
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
confrontation · challenge · provocation · transgression · flouting · disregard · nonconformity · recalcitrance
effrontery
Shameless, insolent boldness
- gallImpudent boldness or bitterness
- nerveSignal-carrying body fiber
- impudenceShameless boldness toward superiors
brazenness · cheek · presumption · insolence · brashness · impertinence · chutzpah · pertness · sassiness · contumacy
boldness
Fearless readiness to act
- daringAdventurous courage
- fearlessnessComplete lack of dread
- nerveSignal-carrying body fiber
pluck · spunk · gutsiness · mettle · backbone · intrepidity · bravery · fortitude · valor · venturesomeness
foolhardiness
Reckless bravery, unwise daring
- rashnessImprudent haste in action
- imprudenceUnwise decision-making
- heedlessnessFailure to notice danger
carelessness · thoughtlessness · incaution · precipitousness · hastiness · impetuosity · indiscretion · unwiseness · injudiciousness · improvidence
insubordination
Defying workplace authority
- rebelliousnessTendency toward defiant resistance
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
opposition · confrontation · challenge · provocation · transgression · flouting · disregard · nonconformity · recalcitrance · stubbornness
- audacityboldness, brazenness, audacity, chutzpah, gall
- presumptuousnesspresumptuousness, impertinence, audacity, forwardness, boldness
- foolishnessfoolishness, silliness, foolish, stupid, folly
- impulsivityimpulsiveness, impulsivity, rashness, recklessness, hastiness
- recklessnessrecklessness, carelessness, negligence, impulsiveness, rashness
- backtalkbacktalk, sass, lip, backchat, talk back
temeritytimidity
Fearful lack of courage
caution · prudence · cowardice · timorousness · fearfulness
temeritydiffidence
Modest self-distrust
modesty · deference · humility · bashfulness · shyness
temerityprudence
Careful, wise judgment
caution · circumspection · deliberation · forethought · care