Dictionary
chutzpah
noun chutz·pah \ˈhu̇t-spə, ˈḵu̇t-, -(ˌ)spä\
: personal confidence or courage that allows someone to do or say things that may seem shocking to others
Full Definition of CHUTZPAH
See chutzpah defined for English-language learners
See chutzpah defined for kids
Variants of CHUTZPAH
chutz·pah also chutz·pa or hutz·pah or hutz·pa \ˈhu̇t-spə, ˈḵu̇t-, -(ˌ)spä\
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of CHUTZPAH
Yiddish khutspe, from Late Hebrew ḥuṣpāh
First Known Use: 1883
Related to CHUTZPAH
- Synonyms
- audaciousness, audacity, brashness, brass, brassiness, brazenness, cheek, cheekiness, effrontery (also chutzpa or hutzpah or hutzpa), crust, face, gall, nerve, nerviness, pertness, presumption, presumptuousness, sauce, sauciness, temerity
Synonym Discussion of CHUTZPAH
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>.
Rhymes with CHUTZPAH
aba, Accra, aha, Allah, amah, Armagh, Artois, ayah, Bekaa, bourgeois, brava, chamois, Chechnya, Chita, compas, Degas, dolma, Dubois, Dunois, éclat, fa la, faux pas, fellah, Fermat, feta, foie gras, gaga, galah, Galois, goombah, grandma, grandpa, ha-ha, halvah, Hama, hoo-ha, hoopla, Hsia, hurrah, huzzah, Konya, Makah, Marat, markka, Maurois, mirepoix, mudra, Oita, oompah, opah, Oujda, quinoa, paisa, pasha, patois, pooh-bah, prutah, pya, Sanaa, sangfroid, selah, Seurat, Shema, Shoah, sol-fa, supra, Syrah, ta-ta, tola, Tonghua, Ufa, Utah, Vaudois, viva, voilà, wah-wah, whoopla
Learn More About CHUTZPAH
Browse
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up chutzpah? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).