Ĭm'pu-dençe, n.

[Fr. impudence, Sp. impudencia, It. impudenza, Lat. impudentia.] The quality of being impudent; assurance, accompanied with a disregard of the presence or opinions of others; shamelessness; want of modesty.

Those clear truths that either their own evidence forces us to admit, or common experience makes it impudence to deny. Locke.

Synonyms—Shamelessness; audacity; insolence; effrontery; sauciness; impertinence; pertness; rudeness.—IMPUDENCE, EFFRONTERY, SAUCINESS. Impudence refers more especially to the feelings as manifested in action. Effrontery applies to some gross and public exhibition of shamelessness. Sauciness refers to a sudden outbreak of impudence, especially from an inferior. Impudence is an unblushing kind of impertinence, and may be manifested in words, tones, gestures, looks, &c. Effrontery rises still higher, and shows a total unconcern for the opinions of those present, and a disregard for all the forms of civil society. Sauciness discovers itself toward particular individuals, in certain relations; as in the case of servants who are saucy to their masters, or children who are saucy to their teachers.