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Definition of bravado
bravadoes
orbravados
1a : blustering swaggering conduct youthful bravadob : a pretense of bravery
2 : the quality or state of being foolhardy
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Examples of bravado in a Sentence
His stories are always told with bravado.
I remember his youthful bravado.
Recent Examples of bravado from the Web
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When the lanky singer walked on stage, his deep, soulful voice resonated loudly over his four-piece band's own grinding bravado.
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Free-agent guard Dion Waiters has turned his one-year audition with the Miami Heat -- a season filled with bravado and big-moments shots -- into a four-year return engagement.
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His stage persona included aspects of fist-pumping rap bravado, with uninhibited skipping, and occasional Michael Jackson-like dance moves.
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Cohn, with his bravado, reckless opportunism, legal pyrotechnics, and serial fabrication, became a fitting mentor for the young real-estate scion.
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But Republican fixtures in Washington are beginning to conclude that Trump may be neither, despite his mix of bravado, threats and efforts to schmooze with GOP lawmakers.
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But Republican fixtures in Washington are beginning to conclude that Trump may be neither, despite his mix of bravado, threats and efforts to schmooze with GOP lawmakers.
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For all of its bravado about changing the world, the tech industry is very much a man's world.
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The performers are applauded by the sirens who understand the athleticism, poise and sheer bravado that goes into the making of a mermaid.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bravado'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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.
Origin and Etymology of bravado
Middle French bravade & Old Spanish bravata, from Old Italian bravata, from bravare to challenge, show off, from bravo
BRAVADO Defined for English Language Learners
bravado
playDefinition of bravado for English Language Learners
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: confident or brave talk or behavior that is intended to impress other people
Learn More about bravado
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Spanish Central: Translation of bravado Nglish: Translation of bravado for Spanish speakers
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