swagger

play

verb swag·ger \ ˈswa-gər \

Definition of swagger

swaggered; swaggering play \-g(ə-)riŋ\

intransitive verb

1 :to conduct oneself in an arrogant or superciliously pompous manner; especially :to walk with an air of overbearing self-confidence

2 :boast, brag

transitive verb

:to force by argument or threat :bully

—

swaggerer

play \-gər-ər\ noun

—

swaggeringly

play \-g(ə-)riŋ-lē\ adverb

See swagger defined for English-language learners

See swagger defined for kids

Examples of swagger in a Sentence

He copped a plea, ratted out a dozen no-neck pals and swaggered off to prison, leaving South Beach temporarily without a pied piper. —Carl Hiaasen, New York Times Book Review, 22 Feb. 2009
So it is a fight rather than an argument, really—a fight over complexity versus ease, a fight that mostly mimics gang war, which is not so much a vigorous instance of manly bloodletting (though it is that too) as a dustup over prestige: who has the prior right to swagger in public. —Cynthia Ozick, Harper's, April 2007
Sometimes he sauntered through the streets of the old town. He looked with awe at the students of the corps, their cheeks gashed and red, who swaggered about in their coloured caps. —W. Somerset Maugham, Of Human Bondage, 1915
I, too, would swagger if I'd won first place in the bowling tournament.
hoping to impress the women at the bar, the young man confidently swaggered across the room

Recent Examples of swagger from the Web

Trump idolizes swaggering commanders, such as the cinematic portrayal of George S. Patton Jr., the World War II general.

— author: robert costa, philip rucker, Alaska Dispatch News, "Military leaders gain influence throughout executive branch as they counsel president," 23 Aug. 2017
Trump idolizes swaggering commanders, such as the cinematic portrayal of George S. Patton Jr., the World War II general.

— author: robert costa, philip rucker, Alaska Dispatch News, "Military leaders gain influence throughout executive branch as they counsel president," 23 Aug. 2017
Trump idolizes swaggering commanders, such as the cinematic portrayal of George S. Patton Jr., the World War II general.

— robert costa, Washington Post, "Military leaders consolidate power in Trump administration," 22 Aug. 2017
The Killers, a quartet lead by swaggering multi-instrumentalist Brandon Flowers, will be a trio-plus-one for the tour, with bassist Mark Stoermer again a no-show.

— ben crandell, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Ticket alert: The Killers coming to Orlando," 28 July 2017
Where Spicer was a career cog in the Republican machine, Scaramucci is a swaggering New Yorker who speaks in the same clunky business pidgin as the president and can drop names nearly as prodigiously too.

— david a. graham, The Atlantic, "Anthony Scaramucci Is the Right Answer to the Wrong Question," 21 July 2017
War drums boomed through all the noise as McGregor finally entered, swaggering in like William Wallace before his legion of loyal fans.

— tim kiernan, SI.com, "There could be more substance to Mayweather-McGregor than purists think," 14 July 2017
Fahey's swaggering thane falls apart easily once unmoored from his previous stance as a noble defender of Jack Hickey's Duncan.

— kerry reid, chicagotribune.com, "First Folio delivers a 'Macbeth' to the fates and the night sky," 26 June 2017
The high-concept stage design included not only many huge video screens but also smaller televisions of all sizes that Bono swaggered through and around. ...

— max londberg and timothy finn, kansascity.com, "U2 in KC: a quick look at past shows, plus that music video they made here," 12 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of swagger

probably from ¹swag + -er (as in chatter)

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1596

See Words from the same year

swagger Synonyms

Synonyms

blow, brag, bull [slang], crow, gasconade, boast, vapor, vaunt

Related Words

bluster, harangue, puff; pride; gush; exult, glory, rejoice; brandish, display, exhibit, expose, flaunt, glorify, parade, show off; magnify, maximize

Near Antonyms

belittle, deprecate, diminish, discount, laugh off, minimize, play down, pooh-pooh (also pooh), shrug off, underrate, undervalue; bemoan, lament, mourn, regret

swagger

play

noun swag·ger \ ˈswa-gər \

Definition of swagger

1 a :an arrogantly self-confident way of walking :an act or instance of swaggering

b :arrogant or conceitedly self-assured behavior

c :ostentatious display or bravado

2 :a self-confident outlook :cockiness

See swagger defined for English-language learners

Examples of swagger in a Sentence

He limps with a noticeable swagger, flamboyantly waving his cane, semi-ironically mimicking the rap stars who are now his peers. —Matt Diehl, Spin, September 2008
He greeted me with the swagger he's learned since he became a fighter pilot, smiling, his blue eyes glowing. —Matthew Klam, Harper's, February 1999
What a hero Tom was become, now! He did not go skipping and prancing, but moved with a dignified swagger as became a pirate who felt that the public eye was on him. —Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer, 1876
He has a swagger that annoys some of his teammates.

Recent Examples of swagger from the Web

Gotta love the attitude — which is where great, ferocious, swagger-y defense always starts.

— greg cote, miamiherald, "The starting place for talk of Hurricanes and national relevance? Beat FSU," 29 Aug. 2017
A lot of the players walk around with this swagger about them, and that can be attributed to Coach Brohm.

— danielle lerner, The Courier-Journal, "Jeff Brohm: 'I want to be a difference-maker' at Purdue," 14 Aug. 2017
Performing before a field of fake sunflowers reminiscent of those on his album cover, Tyler brought his swagger and signature brazen Golf Wang attire to the stage.

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Best Moments from Panorama Music Festival," 31 July 2017
When Oasis first appeared in 1994, Gallagher was the kind of rock star people hadn’t seen since the 70s—hard-partying, off the rails, bursting with cockiness and swagger.

— luca cimarusti, Chicago Reader, "On his first solo record, Liam Gallagher proves he’s still got it (or at least some of it)," 20 July 2017
Boo's delivery developed over time to exude a confident swagger.

— AL.com, "These are the women in southern hip-hop you should know," 14 July 2017
With Lula 's swagger setting the tone, Brazil sought to shrug off northern economic and political hegemony and engage in global problems, like Middle East peace and the standoff over Iran's nuclear program.

— reuters, Fortune, "Here’s How Nevada Will Try To Solve Its Pot Shortage," 12 July 2017
Donald Trump is in office despite allegations of predatory behavior; Bill Cosby took his mistrial as a reason to swagger.

— spencer kornhaber, The Atlantic, "Kesha's Comeback Message: Love Thy Enemy," 6 July 2017
After parts of seven seasons in Kansas City, after two World Series appearances and a world championship, after years of offering swagger to a clubhouse, Dyson was moving on.

— rustin dodd, kansascity, "Ex-Royal Jarrod Dyson feels like trade to Seattle was right move for his career," 3 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of swagger

see ¹swagger

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1725

See Words from the same year

swagger

play

adjective swag·ger \ ˈswa-gər \

Definition of swagger

:marked by elegance or showiness :posh

Origin and Etymology of swagger

see ¹swagger

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1879

See Words from the same year

SWAGGER Defined for English Language Learners

swagger

play

verb

Definition of swagger for English Language Learners

: to walk in a very confident way : to walk with a swagger

swagger

play

noun

Definition of swagger for English Language Learners

: a way of walking or behaving that shows you have a lot of confidence

SWAGGER Defined for Kids

swagger

play

verb swag·ger \ ˈswa-gər \

Definition of swagger for Students

swaggered; swaggering

:to walk with a proud strut

swagger

noun

Definition of swagger for Students

:an act or instance of walking with a proud strut

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swagger

Definition of swagger

swaggerer

swaggeringly

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Examples of swagger in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of swagger

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swagger

Definition of swagger

Examples of swagger in a Sentence

Recent Examples of swagger from the Web

Origin and Etymology of swagger

swagger

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Origin and Etymology of swagger

SWAGGER Defined for English Language Learners

swagger

Definition of swagger for English Language Learners

swagger

Definition of swagger for English Language Learners

SWAGGER Defined for Kids

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swagger

Definition of swagger for Students

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