grandstander
noun
grand·stand·er
ˈgran(d)-ˌstan-dər 
plural grandstanders
usually disapproving
: one who behaves or performs in a way meant to attract attention and impress onlookers
… is regarded by critics as an inveterate grandstander whose grandiose actions could lead to his excommunication …—
Richard N. Ostling et al.
Richard N. Ostling et al.In this community that fostered conformity and the work ethic, some considered Campbell flamboyant. Critics said he was a hotdog, a grandstander.—Jack Smith
Jack Smith… he was simultaneously applauded by admirers as a hero and reviled by critics as a grandstander.—Howard Markel
Howard MarkelA brilliant, combative grandstander who clowned in costumes, kissed catfish and crawled through the seal house in Central Park to get publicity … .—Robert D. McFadden
Robert D. McFaddenExamples of grandstander in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Becerra is universally considered a nice guy — soft-spoken, not a grandstander.
—George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
That means that Democratic members of Congress, who have large enough minorities in both houses to have had a meaningful influence on governance in the traditional American system, are reduced to being bystanders and grandstanders as Republicans shoot their shot.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 11 Apr. 2025
The president saw General Milley as a grandstander and a traitor.
—Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025
Like Frances Kelsey, Widukind Lenz was no grandstander.
—Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 26 Sep. 2024
Last week, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds followed the lead of Texas counterpart and grandstander extraordinaire Greg Abbott in signing a bill that would make immigration violations a state-level crime.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2024
Although those episodes led to some altered policies and the reassignment of officers, Mr. Safir’s default position was to defend the department’s tactics and to dismiss his critics as political grandstanders.
—Clyde Haberman, New York Times, 12 Sep. 2023
His plans have sparked a lively debate on Cuba’s still wide-open social media platforms, where some have congratulated his bravery while others have dismissed him as a grandstander and questioned his assumption of leadership among a wide range of opposition factions — many of which predate his own.
—Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2021
His detractors in the Army saw him differently: To them, Fishback was an opportunistic grandstander, a rat who betrayed his own and rode it to fame.
—C.j. Chivers, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2023
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George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
That means that Democratic members of Congress, who have large enough minorities in both houses to have had a meaningful influence on governance in the traditional American system, are reduced to being bystanders and grandstanders as Republicans shoot their shot.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 11 Apr. 2025
The president saw General Milley as a grandstander and a traitor.
—Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025
Like Frances Kelsey, Widukind Lenz was no grandstander.
—Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 26 Sep. 2024
Last week, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds followed the lead of Texas counterpart and grandstander extraordinaire Greg Abbott in signing a bill that would make immigration violations a state-level crime.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2024
Although those episodes led to some altered policies and the reassignment of officers, Mr. Safir’s default position was to defend the department’s tactics and to dismiss his critics as political grandstanders.
—Clyde Haberman, New York Times, 12 Sep. 2023
His plans have sparked a lively debate on Cuba’s still wide-open social media platforms, where some have congratulated his bravery while others have dismissed him as a grandstander and questioned his assumption of leadership among a wide range of opposition factions — many of which predate his own.
—Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2021
His detractors in the Army saw him differently: To them, Fishback was an opportunistic grandstander, a rat who betrayed his own and rode it to fame.
—C.j. Chivers, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Grandstander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grandstander. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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