IMPUDENCE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does impudence mean? 

• IMPUDENCE (noun)
  The noun IMPUDENCE has 2 senses:

1. an impudent statement

2. the trait of being rude and impertinent; inclined to take liberties

  Familiarity information: IMPUDENCE used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• IMPUDENCE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An impudent statement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

cheek; impertinence; impudence

Hypernyms ("impudence" is a kind of...):

discourtesy; disrespect (an expression of lack of respect)

Derivation:

impudent (improperly forward or bold)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The trait of being rude and impertinent; inclined to take liberties

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

cheekiness; crust; freshness; gall; impertinence; impudence; insolence

Hypernyms ("impudence" is a kind of...):

discourtesy; rudeness (a manner that is rude and insulting)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "impudence"):

chutzpa; chutzpah; hutzpah ((Yiddish) unbelievable gall; insolence; audacity)

Derivation:

impudent (improperly forward or bold)

 Context examples 

I will not encourage the impudence of either, by receiving them at Longbourn.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

It's like your impudence to say so: I expected it of you; I heard it in your step as you crossed the threshold.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Never saw such monstrous impudence in my life!

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“I say nothing of which I am ashamed,” replied he, with lively impudence.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

“Like his impudence,” said Peggotty, “but I don't mind that! Davy dear, what should you think if I was to think of being married?”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

She was well paid for her impudence.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

After about two hours the court retired, and I was left with a strong guard, to prevent the impertinence, and probably the malice of the rabble, who were very impatient to crowd about me as near as they durst; and some of them had the impudence to shoot their arrows at me, as I sat on the ground by the door of my house, whereof one very narrowly missed my left eye.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

He was in high spirits, doing everything with happy ease, and preeminent in all the lively turns, quick resources, and playful impudence that could do honour to the game; and the round table was altogether a very comfortable contrast to the steady sobriety and orderly silence of the other.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

"Well, for cool native impudence and pure innate pride, you haven't your equal," said he.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Elizabeth had not before believed him quite equal to such assurance; but she sat down, resolving within herself to draw no limits in future to the impudence of an impudent man.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)