CHEEKINESS Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

cheekiness

noun

Definition of cheekiness

as in nerve

shameless boldness the cheekiness of the restaurant's demand that we pay for unordered food was breathtaking

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of cheekiness Sure, Tony goes through yet another rebirth cycle, (as does every hero in their origin story film), but the film’s cheekiness makes that trope feel fresh and fun once again. — Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026 The rear has a bit of cheekiness without going overboard, and the top offers full coverage. — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 29 July 2026 Even its occasional attempts at campy tongue-in-cheekiness seldom raise more than a titter. — Arthur Knight, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026 Aside from speaking in a period-appropriate tone with the right inflections, Cage infused his performance with a certain cheekiness. — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026 The cheekiness, the humor, but the real humanity too. — Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 7 Dec. 2025 The split hem on the pencil skirt also adds a bit of cheekiness to the dress. — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 30 Oct. 2025 There’s an athleticism and a cheekiness to the Hoggett school of stage movement — the street is always present, along with pinches of parkour, blended with elements of more traditional dance that would probably make a real posse of youths roll their eyes. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025 Expect toffee-toned sweetness twisted with fruity cheekiness. — Angela Lei, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cheekiness

Noun

Back in 2023, Stevens revealed he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome—a rare auto-immune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves—and was working to relearn how to walk and use his hands.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 27 Oct. 2026
Johns Hopkins University researchers created a similar prosthetic device that instead maps pressure variables and sends them back to the observer using an electromyography (EMG) link hooked directly into deep muscle and nerve pathways.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of nerve

Noun

The official copy covered four big sheets of parchment in ink made from oak galls.

— James Whorton Jr, Longreads, 13 Oct. 2026
What galls, perhaps, is less the accident itself than the absence of a person stepping out from behind the wheel, having a human experience of horror and regret.

— Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of gall

Noun

McVay and Snead have effectively built a culture of arrogance.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
These fascinating, illuminating episodes raise the question of whether great fiction requires the kind of single-mindedness and even arrogance that McCarthy cultivated.

— New York Times, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of arrogance

Noun

His brashness is his principal liability as an investigative journalist and his best asset, though of course that’s not how Lee would put it.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
Fans walked around downtown in gear declaring their dominance - national championship tees and Rose Bowl jackets - and businesses hung signs in homage to their head coach’s brashness.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of brashness

Noun

Unfortunately, South Korea’s situation is becoming more precarious — and thus conflict more likely — as Kim’s confidence grows and resolve weakens in Seoul and Washington.

— Dan Blumenthal, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
The Field Partner Program began as a pilot in 2025 and is scaling with the 2026 crop, helping brands support regenerative agriculture goals with confidence.

— SJ Studio, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of confidence

Noun

The audacity to try is a matter of courage—and Cohen, the primary vocalist, has a ton.

— Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026
Those Aces were trumped in the semifinals by the dominant Valkyries, who’ve had the audacity to reach the Finals in only their second season.

— Don Riddell, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of audacity

Browse Nearby Words

cheek

cheekiness

cheeks

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Style

“Cheekiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cheekiness. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of cheekiness

noun

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