temerity

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 10, 2025 is: temerity \tuh-MAIR-uh-tee\ noun Temerity is the quality of being confident and unafraid of danger or punishment, especially in a way that seems rude or foolish. Temerity may also refer to a rash or reckless act. // She had the temerity to ask me for another loan when she had yet to begin repaying the first one. // The students somehow convinced the principal that a prank of such temerity warranted only three days' detention. [See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/temerity) Examples: "Once upon a time, music critics were known for being crankier than the average listener. [Taylor] Swift once castigated a writer who'd had the temerity to castigate her, singing, 'Why you gotta be so mean?'" — Kelefa Sanneh, The New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025 Did you know? When you're feeling saucy, there's [no shortage of words](https://bit.ly/4n0d71R) in the English language you can use to describe the particular flavor of your metaphorical sauce, from [audacity](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/audacity) and [effrontery](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/effrontery) to the Yiddish-derived fan favorite [chutzpah](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/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?"