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temerity

[ tuh-mer-i-tee ]

/ təˈmɛr ɪ ti /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR temerity ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

reckless boldness; rashness.

Origin of temerity

1400–50; late Middle English temeryte < Latin temeritās hap, chance, rashness, equivalent to temer(e) by chance, rashly + -itās -ity

SYNONYMS FOR temerity

audacity, effrontery, foolhardiness.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR temerity ON THESAURUS.COM

Words nearby temerity

temaki, temazepam, temblor, temenus, temerarious, temerity, temesvár, temin, temirtau, temne, temp

Example sentences from the Web for temerity

Should the caller have the temerity to ask where they were, the phone call would be quietly ended.

The Bookstore That Bewitched Mick Jagger, John Lennon, and Greta Garbo |Felice Picano |December 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Some time ago, I wrote a blog post in which I had the temerity to question the validity of chronic Lyme diagnoses.

Predator Doctors Take Advantage of Patients With ‘Chronic Lyme’ Scam |Russell Saunders |September 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Just two weeks ago, The New York Times Magazine had the temerity to ask, “Has the Libertarian Moment Finally Arrived?”

The Libertarian Moment in Ferguson |Nick Gillespie |August 21, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Nor is it where the gunman then viciously pistol whips his victim repeatedly for having the temerity not to die.

Bronx Gunman Shot His Friend, Didn’t Spill His Drink |Michael Daly |August 5, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Instead, MacMillan has the temerity to issue a caveat mid-thrust.

‘Halt and Catch Fire’ and AMC’s Push to Reset Dramas |Andrew Romano |May 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
In vain do I bring to remembrance my successful acts of temerity on many occasions; I can't think of attempting them now.

Dangerous Connections, v. 1, 2, 3, 4 |Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
Under the circumstances neither Barbara nor Nona had the temerity to follow them.

The Red Cross Girls with the Russian Army |Margaret Vandercook
First you have the temerity to carry out something approaching a theft, a common and nefarious business.

King of Ranleigh |F. S. (Frederick Sadlier) Brereton
About two years ago a conjurer paid more dearly for his temerity.

Narrative of a Journey to the Shores of the Polar Sea, in the Years 1819-20-21-22, Volume 1 |John Franklin
The two Indians who were free were hobbling towards the woodland on the other side, appalled by their own temerity.

With Drake on the Spanish Main |Herbert Strang

British Dictionary definitions for temerity

temerity

/ (tɪˈmɛrɪtɪ) /

noun

rashness or boldness

Derived forms of temerity

temerarious (ˌtɛməˈrɛərɪəs), adjective

Word Origin for temerity

C15: from Latin temeritās accident, from temere at random