cheek

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word cheek different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of cheek are audacity, chutzpah, effrontery, gall, hardihood, nerve, and temerity. While all these words mean "conspicuous or flagrant boldness," nerve, cheek, gall, and chutzpah are informal equivalents for effrontery.

the nerve of that guy
has the cheek to call herself a singer
had the gall to demand proof
the chutzpah needed for a career in show business

When is audacity a more appropriate choice than cheek?

In some situations, the words audacity and cheek are roughly equivalent. However, audacity implies a disregard of restraints commonly imposed by convention or prudence.

an entrepreneur with audacity and vision

When would effrontery be a good substitute for cheek?

The synonyms effrontery and cheek are sometimes interchangeable, but effrontery implies shameless, insolent disregard of propriety or courtesy.

outraged at his effrontery

When can hardihood be used instead of cheek?

While the synonyms hardihood and cheek are close in meaning, hardihood suggests firmness in daring and defiance.

admired for her hardihood

When might temerity be a better fit than cheek?

The words temerity and cheek can be used in similar contexts, but temerity suggests boldness arising from rashness and contempt of danger.

had the temerity to refuse

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cheek After their discussion wrapped, Vaccarello exchanged a warm double kiss on the cheek with Olivia Wilde. Paul Chi, Vogue, 1 Mar. 2025 Small visual disruptions when looking at screens or the color white and biting her cheeks while asleep turned out to be a sign of seizure activity. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025 During the event, Jin was offering hugs to fans when the woman allegedly kissed him on the cheek. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2025 On Friday, the Prince and Princess of Wales Instagram account posted a shot of William, 42, kissing Kate, 43, on the cheek from a September 2024 shoot. Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cheek
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cheek
Noun
  • Arora’s big bet helped attract us to Palo Alto Networks for the first time, realizing that the executive was quite literally putting his money where his mouth was.
    Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2025
  • The team even placed small objects in the unconscious animal's mouths, which tongue pulling dislodged.
    Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 21 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Luckily, the Burlington eased my nerves from doing further damage.
    Matthew MacConnell, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
  • The charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent are at alarmingly high levels, and Ginger Minj as Catherine the Great riding a toy horse?
    Barry Levitt, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Conversation Starters: The long tail of a heated U.S.-Canada rivalry More best-on-best international hockey, please.
    Alex Kirshner, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
  • The long, bony tail—a vestige of its dinosaurian past—contrasts sharply with the modern short tail of Baminornis zhenghensis, prompting the aforementioned reevaluation of its place on the evolutionary tree.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • With that context, Zubac is a poster child for keeping the apology as loud as the disrespect.
    Shane Young, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
  • No disrespect to Sir Paul McCartney, but Dwayne Carter Jr. (a.k.a. Lil Wayne) clearly had the superior musical medley of the night.
    Andy Hoglund, EW.com, 17 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Our study also identified other risks, including low blood pressure, sleep problems, headaches, formation of kidney stones, and gall bladder disease and diseases associated with the bile ducts.
    Ziyad Al-Aly, The Conversation, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Coordinators have rarely had the gall to try to run it in those spots, but the Lions did and scored.
    Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Another trouble spot is the center support—wooden slats or metal beams can move under the weight of whoever is sleeping on it, causing the wood to rub against the frame.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Five steel beams supporting the bridge, each about 164 feet long, collapsed one after another, the news agency said.
    Jin Yu Young, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Julia Montgomery brought her sass to playing Stephanie Tanner on Full House.
    Rachel Flynn, People.com, 26 Jan. 2025
  • Mya Hooten, Minnesota: A three-time Big Ten champion on floor exercise, Hooten is a powerhouse who brings sass to her fun choreography and knows how to nail a landing.
    Tess DeMeyer, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • In 2019, Scarlett Johansson spoke out about the dangers of the practice after her face was grafted onto explicit videos.
    Simmone Shah, TIME, 4 Mar. 2025
  • The building’s core will be preserved while the outside will receive a face lift.
    Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cheek.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cheek. Accessed 8 Mar. 2025.

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