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Glite Dictionary
sassy

sassy

53 7.2
Being bold and lively in a rude or cheeky way
  • adjective
  • /ˈsæsi/
  • Informal
: descarado
  • I appreciate her sassy sense of humor.
  • sexy and sassy
  • smart and sassy
  • get sassy

She is a drop dead gorgeous gay woman who's sassy AF on Twitter.

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Examples

  • Her sassy remarks always make everyone laugh at the meeting.

  • I suppose I am a bit shy of her firecracker energy, her sassy eyes.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • That was sassy for no reason.

  • I want it sassy now.

    Boat Trip (2002)

  • Just a few sassy ladies out for a midnight swim.

    Femalien: Cosmic Crush (2020)

  • Sometimes she's a little sassy, but I like her spirit.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Like with some heels, it's all like cute and sassy and poofy.

  • I love the combination of smart, sassy heroine and a real chemical attraction.

    Blog text (18)

  • She's got her white hair in a sassy little bun on top of her head.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Isn't she sassy?

    The Stepford Wives (2004)

Synonyms

smart
vssassy
  • Offensive
110 6.1

Rude and cheeky in what someone says

is livelier and more playful rather than mainly sharp or cutting
wise
vssassy
  • Informal
98 8.4

Rude and cheeky to someone in authority

is more playful and lively rather than only challenging authority
cheeky
vssassy
  • Informal
32 4.8

Being rude in a playful way that shows little respect

is livelier and more energetic while sometimes crossing polite lines
brash
vssassy
31 6.6

Very confident in a rude, loud way that annoys other people

is more lively and cheeky rather than aggressively overbearing
saucy
vssassy
  • Informal
22 5.8

Being playful and a little rude in a way that teases people

is bolder and cheekier rather than merely playful in tone
fresh
vssassy
  • Offensive
13 7.5

Rude and disrespectful to someone in authority

is more playful and spirited rather than simply confrontational
impertinent
vssassy
13 7.2

Rude or too bold toward someone, sometimes playful

is more lively and cheeky rather than strictly disrespectful
impudent
vssassy
10 7.9

Someone who shows no respect by acting or speaking boldly

has a lighter, more playful boldness instead of pure rudeness
bumptious
vssassy
1 9.9

Too confident and rude in a way that annoys other people

is more playful and cheeky instead of proud or arrogant behavior
chippy
vssassy
  • UK
1 7.7

Being lively and cheerful, often a little cheeky

is bolder and more likely to sound rude or disrespectful
nervy
vssassy
1 7.6

Showing bold rudeness that upsets people

adds a livelier, more playful quality rather than just rudeness
overbold
vssassy
1 7.0

Too confident in a way that seems rude

is more spirited and playfully bold rather than merely excessive

Antonyms

polite
336 1.0

Showing good manners and respect to other people

timid
56 3.5

Shy and afraid to do new or risky things

submissive
39 5.1

Willing to obey others and not argue

How Sassy

insolent
21 7.1
impudent
10 7.9
sassy
  • Informal
53 7.2
saucy
  • Informal
22 5.8
cheeky
  • Informal
32 4.8

Surface Forms

sassy positive
sassier comparative
sassiest superlative

Morphology

sassy = sass (transparent) = sass + y

Standard adjective formation: 'sass' (impudence) + '-y' = having or full of sass; meaning is directly predictable.

Etymology

Sassy comes from sass, an old word for 'cheek' or a 'rude' answer. That sass is related to sauce, which once meant the same thing, so thinking of sassy as a 'spicy' or bold way of speaking helps explain why it means lively, cheeky, and a little rude.