IMPERTINENCE Synonyms: 150 Similar and Opposite Words

impertinence

noun

(ˌ)im-ˈpər-tə-nən(t)s

Definition of impertinence

as in disrespect

disrespectful or argumentative talk given in response to a command or request a disciplinarian of the old school, he refused to tolerate any impertinence from his children

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in disrespectfulness

rude behavior the impertinence of deliberately ignoring waiting customers while they finished their conversation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in irrelevance

the quality or state of not having anything to do with the matter at hand the impertinence of that issue renders any discussion of it a waste of our time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 impertinence Or exacerbated the impertinence. — Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025 This wasn't the first time one reduced me to spewing curses, just the first time a robot has accused me of impertinence. — Mark Phelan, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025 The impertinence of the Kodak fiend has become a vast, invisible apparatus of computation that is perpetually grinding data from the grist of our daily affairs, and exploiting such information for all sorts of ends. — Ben Tarnoff, The New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2024 Her highly English mix of impertinence, acerbic prose and class obsession turned the then-flailing magazine into a success. — Michael M. Grynbaum, New York Times, 8 June 2024 See All Example Sentences for impertinence

Recent Examples of Synonyms for impertinence

Noun

Nathan is offended and starts going on his usual rant about not tolerating disrespect toward his family.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
What readers are saying The comments express frustration and disappointment over the littering and disrespect shown by visitors to national parks, particularly Yellowstone.

— Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of disrespect

Noun

The Dodgers were plunging into a purgatory of irrelevance from which seemingly nobody could save them.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
The Dolphins and their fans have been wandering a quarter century in football abyss, in national irrelevance, and wonder how the franchise of the Perfect Season, of Don Shula and Dan Marino, could get this way.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of irrelevance

Noun

Among recent theater that has wrestled, even tangentially, with the Jewish diaspora’s relationship to Israel, like Birthright, Jewish Plot, or Giant, Slam Frank is notable both for its gregarious impudence and then sudden caution.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Cronin has long toed the line of humor and impudence, appearing in social media clips all season.

— Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026

Definition of impudence

Noun

But the opposition is steeped in that same monotone rudeness.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
The once-vaunted values of public life are now reduced to the lower standards of private life—venality, vulgarity, rudeness, incontinence, and ignorance.

— Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026

Definition of rudeness

Noun

An America that seeks justice with dignity and wisdom, not arrogance and gore.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 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

Browse Nearby Words

impersonators

impertinence

impertinency

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Impertinence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impertinence. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of impertinence

noun

Example Sentences

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