1
as in wise
displaying or marked by rude boldness
the impertinent child had a smart answer for everything
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rude
showing a lack of manners or consideration for others
impertinent salesmen who telephone people during the dinner hour
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in irrelevant
not having anything to do with the matter at hand
your résumé needlessly lists skills that are impertinent to the job for which you are applying
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impertinent
This should be said with a beatific bridal smile — the sincerity of which Miss Manners hopes your guests will be questioning for the rest of their rude and impertinent lives.
—
Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 4 Oct. 2024
Starting out as a stand-up in her native Detroit and then getting her big break on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In in 1969, Tomlin, now 84, invented iconic characters — from Ernestine, an impertinent telephone operator, to Edith Ann, a precocious 5-year-old — both absurd and sweet but undeniably human.
—Jason Sheeler, Peoplemag, 30 May 2024
Beyond the Biennale, Christoph Büchel’s frenzied exhibition at the Fondazione Prada assembles mountains of junk and jewels into an impertinent exposé of wealth and debt, colonialism and collecting.
—Jason Farago, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2024
The initial inquiry about aftershave was impertinent and, as it was delivered to the whole room, could simply have been ignored.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for impertinent
Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 4 Oct. 2024
Starting out as a stand-up in her native Detroit and then getting her big break on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In in 1969, Tomlin, now 84, invented iconic characters — from Ernestine, an impertinent telephone operator, to Edith Ann, a precocious 5-year-old — both absurd and sweet but undeniably human.
—Jason Sheeler, Peoplemag, 30 May 2024
Beyond the Biennale, Christoph Büchel’s frenzied exhibition at the Fondazione Prada assembles mountains of junk and jewels into an impertinent exposé of wealth and debt, colonialism and collecting.
—Jason Farago, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2024
The initial inquiry about aftershave was impertinent and, as it was delivered to the whole room, could simply have been ignored.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for impertinent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impertinent
Adjective
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Here, Forbes Coaches Council members share wise strategies for tactfully and strategically highlighting your contributions at work.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
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Speaking of family, Nivola’s parents gave him some wise advice.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The move garnered mixed reactions, with many calling out Brown for his rude tone and choice of words.—
Jessica Bennett,
VIBE.com,
18 Mar. 2025
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Shift The Focus To Collaboration Sometimes, rude colleagues act out of insecurity or stress.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The weather’s getting warmer in Montreal, playoff weather, a time of year this group is used to looking for external, irrelevant sources of motivation to play out the string.—
Arpon Basu,
The Athletic,
16 Mar. 2025
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Too long to weed through red herrings and convolutions in the mystery that eventually border on irrelevant.—
Daniel Fienberg,
The Hollywood Reporter,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Fortunately, Snow White’s newfound enlightenment does not deny her the possibility of romance, although princes are now strictly off-limits; her love interest here is a fetchingly impudent bandit, Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), who is leading a scrappy rebellion against the Evil Queen.—
Justin Chang,
The New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2025
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One chord appears to speak to the other, sounding almost impudent in their simplicity, equal parts ecstatic and heartbreakingly melancholic.—
Sam Davies,
Rolling Stone,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Parthenope is inscrutable yet expressive, insolent yet heroic, magnetic yet unattainable, loving yet selfish.—
Mike Miller,
EW.com,
12 Feb. 2025
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The officers weren't rude, angry, or insolent — as required of a battery conviction — and used their training and legal authority to do their jobs.—
Ryan Murphy,
The Indianapolis Star,
2 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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From the lobby to rooms, restaurants, and the rooftop, neutral backdrops are layered with metallic accents, and bold and energetic colors like emerald green, saffron yellow, fiery chili pepper red, and Mediterranean blue.—
Elizabeth Brownfield,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
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Locksley strayed from bold statements at Maryland football’s spring media day.—
Michael Howes,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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As a result of this brazen detention, Columbia Graduate School of Journalism noncitizen students have been advised to stop covering sensitive issues like Gaza, Ukraine and their own former classmate’s case, while scrubbing social media of this new wrongthink.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2025
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Where Whole Lotta Red felt focused in its brazen, punk-imbued approach, Music sprawls with classic Atlanta rap, industrial synths, and electropop.—
Olivier Lafontant,
Pitchfork,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Dolphins fans were more giddy, cocky and optimistic than Philly fans, Buffalo fans, Baltimore fans and San Francisco fans combined.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Mar. 2025
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In the Mike White directed HBO drama, Schwarzenegger plays Saxon Ratliff, the cocky, finance bro son of a wealthy Southern family.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
2 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impertinent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impertinent. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
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