Words / C2

or-DAYSH-uh-s/ɔːˈdeɪʃəs/

Audacious means surprisingly bold, sometimes shockingly so: an audacious plan, audacious fraud. Bold is everyday; daring is close; brazen (this batch) is shameless rather than brave. Audible is hearable — a lookalike. Do not call a protocol breach audacious as praise.

Meaning

Willing to take surprisingly bold risks; sometimes shockingly bold.

Examples

• “An audacious embargo-break tweet is still a breach.”
• “An audacious embargo-break tweet was still a breach, clever or not.”
• “Bold is everyday. Brazen is shameless. Audacity is the noun (can be blame). Audible is sound. Reckless is the safety warning. Praise audacity only where the risk was legitimate.”

Good to know

Bold to the point of daring. Everyday: bold. Noun: audacity. Cousin: brazen (shameless). Mix-up: audible. A breach is not a compliment.

Near in meaning

bold

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