Unabashed vs. Brazen — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 27, 2024
"Unabashed" describes someone who is not embarrassed or ashamed, whereas "brazen" implies boldness coupled with a disregard for the norms or feelings of others.
Difference Between Unabashed and Brazen
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Key Differences
"Unabashed" characterizes an individual or behavior that openly shows no regret or embarrassment. On the other hand, "brazen" refers to actions or attitudes that are boldly unapologetic and often associated with a lack of respect.
Someone who is unabashed might remain confident and unaffected in situations where others might feel embarrassed. Whereas, a brazen person not only dismisses embarrassment but does so with an audacity that can challenge social etiquette or norms.
Unabashed behavior can be seen as genuine and authentic, as it lacks pretense. Conversely, brazen behavior might be viewed as impudent or disrespectful, pushing the boundaries of acceptable conduct.
While "unabashed" often carries a positive or neutral connotation, celebrating sincerity or personal truth, "brazen" frequently has negative implications, suggesting recklessness or provocative defiance.
In literature and discourse, "unabashed" often compliments qualities like honesty or directness. However, "brazen" is used to accentuate the defiance and daring nature of characters or actions, imbuing them with a more critical or confrontational tone.
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Comparison Chart
Connotation
Generally positive or neutral
Often negative
Implication of respect
No implied disrespect
Often implies disrespect
Relationship with norms
Simply ignores embarrassment
Defiantly challenges norms
Perception
Seen as genuine or sincere
Viewed as impudent or bold
Usage in literature
Highlights authenticity
Highlights defiance or audacity
Compare with Definitions
Unabashed
Not embarrassed or ashamed.
He was unabashed by the mistakes in his speech.
Brazen
Defiantly audacious.
His brazen invasion of privacy was shocking.
Unabashed
Expressing or showing no regret.
She is unabashed about her unconventional lifestyle.
Brazen
Bold and without shame.
She made a brazen attempt to cheat during the exam.
Unabashed
Openly and without apology.
She was unabashed in her critique of the proposal.
Brazen
Marked by blatant, often disrespectful boldness.
The thief’s brazen response surprised the police.
Unabashed
Confidently unaffected by others' opinions.
He walked in unabashed by the critiques.
Brazen
Acting or done in a very open and shocking way without shame or embarrassment.
He told the lie with a brazen disregard for the truth.
Unabashed
Unrestrained in manner or style.
His unabashed enthusiasm was infectious.
Brazen
Shamelessly bold.
Her brazen remarks offended many at the dinner.
Unabashed
Not embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed
He was unabashed by the furore his words provoked
Brazen
Bold and without shame
A brazen hussy
He went about his illegal business with a brazen assurance
Unabashed
Not disconcerted or embarrassed; poised.
Brazen
Made of brass
Brazen fire irons
Unabashed
Not concealed or disguised; obvious
Unabashed disgust.
Brazen
Endure an embarrassing or difficult situation by behaving with apparent confidence and lack of shame
There was nothing to do but brazen it out
Unabashed
Not disconcerted or embarrassed.
Brazen
Unrestrained by a sense of shame; rudely bold.
Unabashed
Of actions, emotions, facts, etc.: that are not concealed or disguised, or not eliciting shame.
Brazen
Having a loud, usually harsh, resonant sound
"sudden brazen clashes of the soldiers' band" (James Joyce).
Unabashed
Not embarrassed;
A tinseled charm and unabashed sentimentality
An unembarrassed greeting as if nothing untoward had happened
Brazen
Made of brass.
Brazen
Resembling brass, as in color or strength.
Brazen
To face or undergo with bold self-assurance
Brazened out the crisis.
Brazen
(archaic) Pertaining to, made of, or resembling brass (in color or strength).
Brazen
Sounding harsh and loud, like brass cymbals or brass instruments.
Brazen
(archaic) Extremely strong; impenetrable; resolute.
Brazen
Shamelessly shocking and offensive; audacious; impudent; barefaced; immodest, unblushing.
She was brazen enough to deny stealing the handbag even though she was caught on closed-circuit television doing so.
Brazen
(intransitive) To turn a brass color.
Brazen
(transitive) Generally followed by out or through: to carry through in a brazen manner; to act boldly despite embarrassment, risk, etc.
Brazen
Pertaining to, made of, or resembling, brass.
Brazen
Sounding harsh and loud, like resounding brass.
Brazen
Impudent; immodest; shameless; having a front like brass; as, a brazen countenance.
Brazen
To carry through impudently or shamelessly; as, to brazen the matter through.
Sabina brazened it out before Mrs. Wygram, but inwardly she was resolved to be a good deal more circumspect.
Brazen
Face with defiance or impudence;
Brazen it out
Brazen
Unrestrained by convention or propriety;
An audacious trick to pull
A barefaced hypocrite
The most bodacious display of tourism this side of Anaheim
Bold-faced lies
Brazen arrogance
The modern world with its quick material successes and insolent belief in the boundless possibilities of progress
Brazen
Made of or resembling brass (as in color or hardness)
Common Curiosities
Can "unabashed" and "brazen" be used interchangeably?
Not usually, as "brazen" often has a negative tone, unlike "unabashed."
Can "unabashed" be seen as a positive trait?
Yes, it often denotes authenticity and sincerity.
Are there contexts where "brazen" could be positive?
Yes, when referring to courage or innovatively challenging outdated norms.
How does society typically view brazen behavior?
Often negatively, as it can imply disrespect or audacity.
Is "brazen" always used negatively?
Typically, yes, it implies a negative judgment of boldness.
Which is more aggressive in connotation, "unabashed" or "brazen"?
"Brazen" is more aggressive and often seen as confrontational.
What type of behavior might be described as "unabashed"?
Behavior that is openly confident without shame.
Does "unabashed" relate to moral judgments?
Less directly, it more so relates to personal confidence and honesty.
What is the main difference between "unabashed" and "brazen"?
"Unabashed" implies a lack of embarrassment, while "brazen" suggests defiant boldness.
How do "unabashed" and "brazen" function in literature?
"Unabashed" highlights honesty, while "brazen" underscores defiance or audacity.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
