flaunt

verb

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\ ˈflȯnt

, ˈflänt \

flaunted; flaunting; flaunts

Definition of flaunt

intransitive verb

1 : to display or obtrude oneself to public notice a great flaunting crowd— Charles Dickens

2 : to wave or flutter showily the flag flaunts in the breeze

transitive verb

1 : to display ostentatiously or impudently : parade flaunting his superiority a chance to flaunt clothes, bodies, and sexuality — New Yorker

2 : to treat contemptuously flaunted the rules— Louis Untermeyer

Other Words from flaunt Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Flaunt vs. Flout: Usage Guide More Example Sentences Phrases Containing flaunt Learn More About flaunt

Other Words from flaunt

flaunt noun

flauntingly \ ˈflȯn-tiŋ-lē

, ˈflän- \ adverb

flaunty \ ˈflȯn--tē

, ˈflän- \ adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for flaunt

show, exhibit, display, expose, parade, flaunt mean to present so as to invite notice or attention. show implies no more than enabling another to see or examine. showed her snapshots to the whole group exhibit stresses putting forward prominently or openly. exhibit paintings at a gallery display emphasizes putting in a position where others may see to advantage. display sale items expose suggests bringing forth from concealment and displaying. sought to expose the hypocrisy of the town fathers parade implies an ostentatious or arrogant displaying. parading their piety for all to see flaunt suggests a shameless, boastful, often offensive parading. nouveaux riches flaunting their wealth

Flaunt vs. Flout: Usage Guide

Although the "treat contemptuously" sense of flaunt undoubtedly arose from confusion with flout, the contexts in which it appears cannot be called substandard. meting out punishment to the occasional mavericks who operate rigged games, tolerate rowdyism, or otherwise flaunt the law — Oscar Lewis observed with horror the flaunting of their authority in the suburbs, where men … put up buildings that had no place at all in a Christian commonwealth — Marchette Chute in our profession … very rarely do we publicly chastise a colleague who has flaunted our most basic principles — R. T. Blackburn, AAUP Bull. If you use it, however, you should be aware that many people will consider it a mistake. Use of flout in the sense of "flaunt, parade" is found occasionally. "The proper pronunciation," the blonde said, flouting her refined upbringing, "is pree feeks" — Mike Royko

Examples of flaunt in a Sentence

She liked to flaunt her wealth by wearing furs and jewelry. They openly flaunted the rules.

Recent Examples on the Web But police say car crime suspects know the rules and flaunt their invulnerability. — Jesse Leavenworth, courant.com, 6 Apr. 2022 Their clients, the titans of banking, railroads, and mining, were looking to flaunt their fortunes and better their social standing, and that of New York in the process. — Leanne Italie, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar. 2022 The idea: flaunt high quality rather than disguising it under a bevy of accouterments. — Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 11 Feb. 2022 Despite the importance of the BATNA, people often are at a loss as to how to define it, improve it, flaunt it, or perhaps hide it. — Leigh Thompson, Quartz, 13 Apr. 2022 Like Demna—who recently staged a full-scale snowstorm during his Paris fashion show, to not only flaunt the expanse of his creative boundaries, but to show support for Ukranian refugees—Kardashian needs the spotlight. — Rosa Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 10 Apr. 2022 And the young stars weren't afraid to flaunt their Britishness. — CNN, 23 Feb. 2022 Russia's wealthy oligarchs and political elites flaunt a level of in-your-face affluence across the world. — Luciana Lopez, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2022 An Olympic opening ceremony typically provides the host nation a chance to showcase its culture, define its place in the world, flaunt its best side. — Sarah Dilorenzo, ajc, 4 Feb. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flaunt.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.