Word of the Day

: April 11, 2010

bravado

noun bruh-VAH-doh

What It Means

1 a : blustering swaggering conduct

b : a pretense of bravery

2 : the quality or state of being foolhardy

bravado in Context

The kayakers attempted the rapids out of sheer bravado, and capsized as a result; fortunately, they escaped with only some mild bruises and scrapes.

Did You Know?

"Bravado" ultimately traces to the Old Italian adjective "bravo," meaning "courageous" or "wild." Nowadays, the wildness once associated with "bravado" has been tamed to an overbearing boldness that comes from arrogance or a position of power. Celebrities, political or corporate giants, and the schoolyard bully may all show "bravado" (though they often turn out to be not so tough after all). "Bravado" is also used for show-offish, daring acts that seem reckless and inconsistent with good sense, but might, nonetheless, be applauded with shouts of "Bravo!" when successful. The spectacular feats of stuntmen come to mind, for example.