Word: impertinent

Associations

"Impertinent" refers to someone who is rude, disrespectful, or inappropriate, especially in situations where politeness is expected. It often describes remarks or behavior that are out of place or cheeky.

• Example 1: A child may ask an impertinent question to an adult, like "Why are you so old?" This can come off as disrespectful.
• Example 2: In a meeting, if someone interrupts and makes an impertinent comment, it can disrupt the conversation and show a lack of respect.
• Example 3: Telling someone they are foolish for their beliefs can be impertinent, as it disregards their feelings.

While "impudent" is a synonym, the difference is that "impudent" often implies a boldness in rudeness, while "impertinent" suggests a lack of proper respect or manners.

Substitution

Other words that can be used instead of impertinent include:

• Disrespectful: This is broader and can apply to behavior and speech, but doesn't always carry the same cheeky connotation.
• Insolent: This emphasizes a more severe level of rudeness and often implies a sense of superiority from the person being rude.
• Cheeky: This is often used in a light-hearted way to describe someone who is playfully rude, while impertinent tends to be more serious.

Deconstruction

The word "impertinent" comes from the Latin "impertinens," where "im-" means "not" and "pertinens" comes from "pertinere," meaning "to belong." So, the root idea conveys something that does not belong or is not fitting in a respectful conversation.

Inquiry

1. Can you think of a time when someone made an impertinent remark? How did it make you feel?
2. How would you describe the difference between impertinent and cheeky behavior?
3. In what situations might someone be impertinent, and what would be a more polite way to express the same idea?