impertinent
/im'pə:tinənt/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Rude, disrespectful, or improperly bold: Showing a lack of respect, especially in speech or manner, by being overly forward or presumptuous.
- Not pertinent; irrelevant: Not connected with or relevant to the matter being considered.
- Lightly pert and exuberant: Characterized by a cheeky, lively, and irreverent quality.
Usage
- Use "impertinent" to describe a person, remark, question, or behavior that is disrespectfully bold or intrusive.
- Use "impertinent" in formal or serious contexts to describe something as irrelevant or unrelated to the subject at hand.
- The word often carries a tone of disapproval when describing rudeness, but can be more neutral or even slightly positive when describing a playful, irreverent attitude.
Examples
- Adjective (Rude/Bold):
- The student was punished for his impertinent remarks to the teacher.
- It is impertinent to ask a stranger about their salary.
- Adjective (Irrelevant):
- The lawyer objected, stating the question was impertinent to the case.
- His lengthy anecdote was amusing but completely impertinent to our discussion.
- Adjective (Pert/Exuberant):
- She answered with an impertinent grin that charmed everyone in the room.
- The novel is narrated with an impertinent wit that delights readers.
Advanced Usage
- Legal Context: In law, an "impertinent" matter in a pleading or argument is one that is not necessary or proper to the case.
- The judge ordered the impertinent allegations to be struck from the record.
- Formal Reproach: Used to formally chastise someone for overstepping boundaries.
- "I find your suggestion impertinent, sir," she replied coldly.
Variants and Related Words
- Impertinence (noun): The quality of being impertinent; rudeness or irrelevance.
- He had the impertinence to correct his boss in front of the entire team.
- Impertinently (adverb): In an impertinent manner.
- The child spoke impertinently to his elder.
Synonyms
- For "rude/bold": Impudent, insolent, cheeky, fresh, saucy, brazen.
- For "irrelevant": Extraneous, immaterial, unrelated, beside the point.
- For "pert/exuberant": Irreverent, flip, playful.
Antonyms
- For "rude/bold": Polite, respectful, deferential, courteous.
- For "irrelevant": Pertinent, relevant, material, germane, applicable.
Idioms and Phrases
- None directly formed with "impertinent": The word itself is typically used in standard adjective form within phrases like "impertinent question" or "impertinent behavior."
Adjective
- improperly forward or bold
- don't be fresh with me
- impertinent of a child to lecture a grownup
- an impudent boy given to insulting strangers
- Don't get wise with me!
- not pertinent to the matter under consideration
- an issue extraneous to the debate
- the price was immaterial
- mentioned several impertinent facts before finally coming to the point
- characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality
- a certain irreverent gaiety and ease of manner