Basic Details
Word: Impudence
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Rude behaviour that shows no respect for another person, often from someone younger.
Synonyms: cheek, insolence, rudeness, nerve
Antonyms: respect, politeness, courtesy
How to Spell Impudence
Syllables: im - pu - dence
Tricky part: The ending is -ence, not -ance, and the middle is pu, not pew.
Watch out for: impudance, impudense, impudince
Memory tip: The noun of impudent swaps t for ce, just as confident gives confidence and silent gives silence.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The guard could not believe the impudence of the boy who asked him to hold his cycle.
Example 2: She had the impudence to answer back to the principal in front of the whole assembly.
Example 3: Chatting all through the national anthem showed an impudence that shocked the whole class.
Fun Fact
Two Latin pieces, in- (not) and pudens (feeling shame), make up this word, so impudence really means shamelessness.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word impudence as used in the sentence:
On his first day at the shop, the new helper had the impudence to ask the owner to fetch him a cup of tea.
a) fear
b) shyness
c) kindness
d) cheek
Show answer
d) cheek. Bold, disrespectful behaviour is called cheek; shyness is almost the reverse.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The headmaster said that such impudance towards an elderly visitor would not be tolerated.
a) headmaster
b) elderly
c) tolerated
d) impudance
Show answer
d) impudance. Impudent ends in -ent, so the noun ends in -ence.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Shouting at the umpire was an act of pure decupimen, and it cost the captain the match.
a) impudence
b) imprudence
c) prudence
d) impedance
Show answer
a) impudence. Imprudence needs an r and impedance needs an a; the jumble has neither.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these is an example of impudence?
a) a child thanking a bus driver
b) a girl apologising for being late
c) a pupil mocking a teacher to her face
d) a boy helping a lost tourist
Show answer
c) a pupil mocking a teacher to her face
2. The adjective that goes with impudence is ____.
a) impudant
b) impudable
c) impudent
d) impudious
Show answer
c) impudent
