barefaced

1 6.9

Very bold and without shame, for example a lie told openly without hiding it

adjective
/ˈbɛrfeɪst/

: descarado

Her barefaced honesty about the situation surprised everyone in the meeting.
a barefaced lie

He stood up and he said barefaced lies.

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Examples

The thief made a barefaced attempt to steal the money in broad daylight.
More barefaced lies on your part.

Blog text (10)
"This is a barefaced attempt"...

Carnage (2011)
A barefaced lie, as the statistics in the World Bank's report demonstrate.

Blog text (32)
Only the U.S. could have the barefaced cheek to suggest otherwise.

Blog text (22)
If people want to rail against bullfighting, that is fine, but making up barefaced lies to support an argument is not fine.

Blog text (28)
Colbert, next time don't get a barefaced liar from the UK to help sell your dogs.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
A barefaced lie. Emma

Fiction book (1998)
In the end, he makes a case much like Mehigan's, highlighting the barefaced careerism of some manifesto writers.

Academic text (2009)
"A barefaced liar" is how First Minister Alex Salmond, leader of Scotland's Natz party, was described today by Labour MSP Paul Martin.

Blog text (3)

Synonyms

brazen

vsbarefaced

37 7.3

Showing no shame or respect for rules

is similar but emphasizes actions done openly without hiding

bald

vsbarefaced

20 6.1

Plain and obvious, not trying to hide the truth or a lie

covers bold open acts as well, not only blunt statements

unabashed

vsbarefaced

13 7.0

Not embarrassed about what you say or do

adds that actions are done openly without any attempt to hide

unashamed

vsbarefaced

6 4.6

Not sorry or embarrassed about what you do

adds overt boldness and open disregard for hiding actions

bald-faced

vsbarefaced

Informal

5 7.4

Clearly not hidden and showing no shame

is equally shameless but stresses bold action done openly

brassy

vsbarefaced

Offensive

5 7.2

Bold and showy in a way people may find rude

shares shamelessness but is more about flashy style than openness

brazen-faced

vsbarefaced

8.8

Showing no shame and acting very boldly

focuses more on open boldness rather than mere lack of shame

Antonyms

discreet

115 5.8

Careful about what you say and do to avoid upsetting people or drawing attention

secretive

71 4.9

A person who does not tell others about their plans or feelings

How Shameless

to brazen

2 7.4

barefaced

1 6.9

shameless

61 3.3

unabashed

13 7.0

Surface Forms

barefaced positive

Morphology

barefaced = bare + face (semi-transparent) = bare + face + ed

The adjective comes from 'bare' + 'faced' (face + -ed) and the meaning 'shameless' is a figurative extension from 'with the face uncovered', so the relation is visible but idiomatic.

Etymology

The word barefaced comes from bare meaning 'without cover' and face meaning 'face', so it gives the picture of someone showing their face openly. So, to be barefaced is to act openly and without shame, for example a barefaced lie is a lie told without trying to hide it.