[te.mer.i.ty] n, pl -ties [ME temeryte, fr. L temeritas, fr. temere blindly, recklessly; akin to OHG demar darkness, L tenebrae, Skt tamas] (15c) 1: unreasonable or foolhardy contempt of danger or opposition: rashness, recklessness
2: an act or instance of temerity syn temerity, audacity, hardihood, effrontery, nerve, cheek, gall, chutzpah mean conspicuous or flagrant boldness. temerity suggests boldness arising from rashness and contempt of danger "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". nerve, cheek, gall, and chutzpah are informal equivalents for effrontery "the nerve of that guy" "has the cheek to call herself a singer" "had the gall to demand proof" "the chutzpah needed for a career in show business".