Dictionary Definition
boldness
Noun
1 the trait of being willing to undertake things
that involve risk or danger; "the proposal required great boldness"
[syn: daring, hardihood] [ant: timidity]
2 impudent aggressiveness; "I couldn't believe
her boldness"; "he had the effrontery to question my honesty" [syn:
nerve, brass, face, cheek]
3 the quality of standing out strongly and
distinctly [syn: strikingness]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Etymology
Noun
Extensive Definition
Boldness is an opposite of being shy. A bold person may be
willing to risk shame or
rejection in social situations, and willing to bend rules of
etiquette or politeness. An excessively
bold person could aggressively ask for money, or persistently push
a person to fulfill some request, and so on. Boldness does not
necessarily mean obnoxious; it is possible for
one to be bold, while staying silent. Excessive boldness may thus
be regarded as impertinence or arrogance. Outside a social
context, "boldness" can also refer to a willingness to get things
done, even despite risks, and is therefore broadly synonymous with
bravery. Boldness is a
trait that wise people should possess.
Boldness is not always in a rash context, but can
have a great positive connotation to the word. For
example, Wikipedia
encourages boldness when editing articles within the website. Being
bold can be a huge step in social development.
"Bold" is sometimes used synonymously with (and
in place of) "impudent", where a child may be punished for "being
bold" when he or she had acted disrespectfully toward an adult, or
simply misbehaved. This usage is standard throughout Ireland.
boldness in German: Kühnheit