Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
jackanapes

jackanapes

1 9.9
A person who is rude and shows too much confidence
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒækəˌneɪps/
  • Offensive
translation icon : descarado
  • She dismissed him as nothing more than a jackanapes full of empty bravado.

Examples

  • The young jackanapes talked back to his elders at every opportunity.

  • That jackanapes thinks he can tell everyone what to do!

  • Nobody paid attention to the office jackanapes who always made cheeky remarks during meetings.

  • Why is that jackanapes always so rude?

  • The young boy acted like a jackanapes, boasting about his achievements to anyone who would listen.

  • Despite being the newest member on the team, she had the audacity of a jackanapes as she criticized the coach's decisions.

  • Everyone found his jackanapes behavior annoying, as he constantly interrupted others with his loud comments.

Synonyms

whippersnapper
vsjackanapes
  • Offensive
6 9.9

A young person who acts too confident and shows little respect

is similar but applies to any age not only young people
snipper-snapper
vsjackanapes
  • Offensive
9.9

A person, often young, who gossips and says rude things about others

focuses on bold cheeky behaviour without gossip or criticism

Antonyms

humble
222 2.8

Not proud and not thinking you are better than others

meek
12 4.4

Quiet and gentle and not likely to speak up

How Impudent

brazen
37 7.3
jackanapes
  • Offensive
1 9.9
cheeky
  • Informal
33 4.8

Surface Forms

jackanapes singular
jackanapes plural

Etymology

Jackanapes probably comes from the old phrase Jack + ape, literally 'Jack, an ape', first used for a cheeky or mischievous monkey and then for a person who behaved like one. So a jackanapes is someone who is bold and cheeky in a silly, showy way.