ENGLISH
REFERENCE

sassy

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈsæsi// UK //sˈæsi// sassy

adj. confident, clever, and a bit rude in a funny way. You use this to describe someone who isn't afraid to speak their mind or show off their personality.

adj. characterised by a bold, lively, and slightly disrespectful attitude, often in a way that is considered amusing or stylish. Frequently used to describe verbal wit or confident body language.


SIMPLE

She gave a sassy answer to the teacher's question.

CONTEXTUAL

The young actress is known for her sassy personality and her ability to handle difficult interviewers with humor.

COMPLEX

While some critics found the protagonist's dialogue overly aggressive, others enjoyed the sassy confidence she displayed when navigating the corporate hierarchy of the fashion world.

Synonyms
Origin

A modification of saucy, equivalent to sass + -y, originally used in American English. First attested in 1799, but in common usage only as of the mid-19th century.

Usage

Often used as a predicative adjective after 'be' or 'get', or attributively to describe a person's tone or style.

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