SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
impertinent
adjective
Rudely disrespectful; sometimes, irrelevant to the matter.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Rudely disrespectful
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topCheeky and saucy can sound playful; impertinent usually criticizes disrespect or inappropriate boldness.
Not relevant
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topThis less common meaning concerns relevance rather than manners.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See impertinent in use
The student's impertinent remark interrupted a serious discussion.
A flippant organizer answered a worried guest's report of a missing bag with a joke about traveling more lightly, dismissing the concern as entertainment. An impertinent volunteer then demanded to know why the guest had brought anything valuable, using a rudely challenging tone.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license