flaunted; flaunting; flaunts
1
: to display or obtrude oneself to public notice
… a great flaunting crowd …—
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens2
: to wave or flutter showily
the flag flaunts in the breeze
1
: to display ostentatiously or impudently : parade
flaunting his superiority
a chance to flaunt clothes, bodies, and sexuality—New Yorker
New Yorker2
: to treat contemptuously
… flaunted the rules …—Louis Untermeyer
Louis Untermeyer
Flaunt vs. Flout: Usage Guide
The "treat contemptuously" use of flaunt found in phrases like "those who flaunt the rules/laws" is common in informal use and sometimes appears in polished and published writing.
… meting out punishment to the occasional mavericks who operate rigged games, tolerate rowdyism, or otherwise flaunt the law.
—Oscar Lewis
Oscar Lewis
"Obviously they're not wearing their cams," Robert told her. "So they're flaunting the rules."
—David Gilbert
David Gilbert
This use undoubtedly arose from confusion with flout, however, and is considered by many to be incorrect. Use of flout in the sense of "flaunt, parade" is also found occasionally.
"The proper pronunciation," the blonde said, flouting her refined upbringing, "is pree feeks."
—Mike Royko
Mike Royko
-er/-est
: given to or characterized by flaunting : ostentatious
a flaunty display of newly acquired possessions
Examples of flaunt in a Sentence
Verb
She liked to flaunt her wealth by wearing furs and jewelry.
They openly flaunted the rules.
Recent Examples on the Web
Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
Tate flaunted his growing wealth on social media, and a following coalesced.
—Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
Archaeological remnants of his reign—the Arch of Galerius and the Rotunda—flaunt the city’s antiquity.
—Magda Teter, The New York Review of Books, 6 June 2026
And while Kardashian and Barker had no problem flaunting their love, others, such as Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, didn't reveal details of their secret nuptials until years later.
—Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for flaunt
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Verb
To see her teammates Jordan Woolery keep flaunting her flashy slash line and Taylor Tinsley sharpening her wicked arsenal of pitches.
—Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
Tate flaunted his growing wealth on social media, and a following coalesced.
—Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
Archaeological remnants of his reign—the Arch of Galerius and the Rotunda—flaunt the city’s antiquity.
—Magda Teter, The New York Review of Books, 6 June 2026
And while Kardashian and Barker had no problem flaunting their love, others, such as Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, didn't reveal details of their secret nuptials until years later.
—Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for flaunt
Cite this Entry
“Flaunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flaunt. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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