Bold describes someone who is confident and willing to take risks, or something that is strong and noticeable in appearance.
It comes from Old English “beald” or “bald,” meaning “brave” or “courageous.” It is related to German “bald,” meaning “soon,” suggesting readiness to act.
We call text “bold” when it’s darker and heavier, and people “bold” when they stand out and take chances. The visual and personality meanings line up: both refuse to fade into the background.
Being ‘bold’ has been praised in men as leadership and condemned in women as aggressiveness or impropriety, reflecting double standards in gender norms. Language around boldness has thus helped police women’s behavior.
Apply ‘bold’ consistently across genders, and be aware of double standards when evaluating assertiveness.
["confident","daring","assertive"]
Many women have been labeled ‘too bold’ while leading movements, organizations, and research that significantly advanced society.
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