cheekiness

1 5.8

A bold, slightly rude way of speaking or acting that is playful and shows little respect

noun
/ˈtʃiːkɪnəs/

Informal

: descaro

a little cheekiness

Yes, I know because it was, you know, that kind of cheekiness.

Examples

2) Women's bottoms should reveal no cheekiness.

Blog text (31)
I'm so happy I try to hug him, and he knocks me down in the dirt with his oar and says my cheekiness has just earned me two additional days.

Fiction book (1995)
It's I would say a similar cheekiness to the Hollister one, but the Hollister one just want to keep creeping up my butt, whereas this one just sits in place.
Her cheekiness always makes everyone laugh, even when she teases the teacher.
The child's cheekiness during the class earned him a playful reprimand from the teacher.
With a cheekiness that was hard to resist, he jokingly challenged his boss's strict rules.

Synonyms

cheek

vscheekiness

Informal

125 6.1

Rude talk or behaviour that shows no respect

is lighter and more playful rather than plain rudeness

gall

vscheekiness

24 8.1

Rude boldness that shows no shame

is more playful and teasing rather than brazen or shameless boldness

insolence

vscheekiness

19 7.2

Rude behavior or speech toward someone in authority

is used more playfully and not limited to challenging authority figures

impudence

vscheekiness

8 7.7

Rude behaviour that shows no respect for other people

is less brazen and more playful in tone than this behaviour

impertinence

vscheekiness

7 8.1

Rude behavior or remarks that show a lack of respect

is more playful and light rather than purely disrespectful or rude

sassiness

vscheekiness

Informal

1 5.2

Bold, lively words or actions that can seem rude

is more about playful disrespect than energetic liveliness

sauciness

vscheekiness

Informal

1 7.0

Bold playful behaviour that is a little rude

is more about playful disrespect than strong boldness

freshness

vscheekiness

Informal

1 7.2

Rude talk or behaviour that shows no respect

is tied to playful disrespect rather than only speaking without restraint

snottiness

vscheekiness

1 8.1

Rude behavior that shows you think you are better than others

is less arrogant and more playful rather than contemptuous or proud

archness

vscheekiness

9.1

Playful, slightly cheeky teasing that makes people smile

is broader, covering playful disrespect rather than sly humour specifically

Antonyms

respectfulness

1 3.9

Polite and kind behavior toward other people's feelings and wishes

How Cheeky

rudeness

27 1.8

impertinence

7 8.1

cheekiness

Informal

1 5.8

playfulness

8 2.5

Surface Forms

cheekiness singular

cheekinesses plural

Morphology

cheekiness = cheeky (transparent) = cheek + y + ness

A straightforward nominalization of the adjective 'cheeky' using '-ness', yielding 'the quality of being cheeky'.

Etymology

Cheekiness comes from cheek, the side of the face, because people once said someone 'had the cheek' when they dared to speak or act without respect. So cheekiness is the quality of being a little 'rude' or 'playfully bold'.