Definition of TEMERITY (original) (raw)
Did you know?
When you’re feeling saucy, there’s no shortage of words in the English language you can use to describe the particular flavor of your metaphorical sauce, from audacity and effrontery to the Yiddish-derived fan favorite chutzpah. If we may be so bold, let us also suggest temerity: it comes from the Latin temere, meaning “recklessly” or “haphazardly,” and is good for suggesting boldness even in the face of danger or likely punishment. Temerity is a formal word, rarely used in casual writing or conversation, but provided you have the cheek to flout this convention, you may be thinking “what have I got to lose?”
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for temerity
had the temerity to refuse
audacity implies a disregard of restraints commonly imposed by convention or prudence.
an entrepreneur with audacity and vision
hardihood suggests firmness in daring and defiance.
admired for her hardihood
effrontery implies shameless, insolent disregard of propriety or courtesy.
outraged at his effrontery
has the cheek to call herself a singer
had the gall to demand proof
the chutzpah needed for a career in show business
Examples of temerity in a Sentence
He defeated giant corporations—the auto industry, big pharma—back when no one else was even trying to; he had the temerity to believe that fighting for safety and quality and transparency was a quintessentially American thing to do. —
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Feb. 2007 A wisp of a kid (six feet, 160 pounds) with the temerity to buzz pitches up and in to Barry Bonds, Hudson has a bit of Pedro in him. —ESPN, 24 July 2000 … all the while you're balancing your two prevailing interests: recording her words to later use against her—because, she, too, had the temerity to be relatively famous and attractive (with a master's from Penn)—while also, more pressingly, trying to get invited back to her apartment. —Dave Eggers, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, 2000
He was punished for his temerity. she had the temerity to ask me if she could borrow some money even though she never repaid the last loan
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the beginning, many scoffed at the temerity of a peanut farmer and one-term governor running for the highest office in the land. —Scott Kraft, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2024 The simple truth is that the DOJ is always on the warpath against businesses possessing the temerity to not just meet the needs of consumers, but lead them. —John Tamny, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024 The Times was especially agitated that the boys’ fathers had had the temerity to go to federal court over this. —Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2024 The old man treated the unusually quiet girl with temerity, unsure how best to care for her. —Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 27 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for temerity 
Word History
Etymology
Middle English temeryte, borrowed from Latin temeritāt- temeritās, from temere "blindly, recklessly, haphazardly" + -itāt- -itās -ity; temere going back to adverbialized locative singular of a noun *temes- "darkness," going back to Indo-European *temH-es-, whence also Sanskrit tamas- "darkness, gloom," Avestan tǝmah-, and, from the base *temH-, Lithuanian témsta, témti "to become dark," tamsà "darkness," tim͂sras "dark red (of a horse), sorrel," Old Church Slavic tĭma "darkness," tĭmĭnŭ "dark, gloomy," and from a *-ro- adjectival derivative Sanskrit tamra- "darkening, oppressive," Germanic *þemra- "darkness," whence Old High German demar "dusk, twilight"
Note: See also tenebrae.
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of temerity was in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near temerity
Cite this Entry
“Temerity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/temerity. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
Share
More from Merriam-Webster on temerity
Last Updated: 3 Jan 2025 - Updated example sentences
Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!