swagger

verb

swag·ger | \ˈswa-gər

swaggered; swaggering\ ˈswa-g(ə-)riŋ

Definition of swagger

(Entry 1 of 3)

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

swagger

noun

swag·ger | \ˈswa-gər

Definition of swagger (Entry 2 of 3)

1a : 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

swagger

adjective

swag·ger | \ˈswa-gər

Definition of swagger (Entry 3 of 3)

: marked by elegance or showiness : posh

Other Words from swagger Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about swagger

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Other Words from swagger

Verb

swaggerer \ ˈswa-gər-ər

\ noun

swaggeringly \ ˈswa-g(ə-)riŋ-lē

\ adverb

Synonyms for swagger

Synonyms: Verb

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

Examples of swagger in a Sentence

Verb

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

Noun

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 on the Web: Verb

The whole craze started back in May 2016, when a high school senior named Michael Senatore swaggered onto a stage and successfully flipped and landed a water bottle on a table during his school's annual talent show. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Physics holds the key to performing the flipping water bottle trick," 8 Oct. 2018 Long a swaggering force, these conservatives now tiptoe on social media outlets like Twitter. — Kareem Fahim, Washington Post, "Saudi Arabia’s once-powerful conservatives silenced by reforms and repression," 5 June 2018 Mexico is part of a select group that includes only host nation Russia, France and Belgium, in going 2-0-0 and possessing the kind of swaggering confidence that comes with that. — Martin Rogers, USA TODAY, "After handling South Korea, swaggering Mexico has legitimate shot to win World Cup," 23 June 2018 America — the nation, ironically, that seemed to care the least about soccer — had swaggered in like some Old West lawman and done something nobody else could: clean up the beautiful game. — Ken Bensinger, chicagotribune.com, "If the U.S. doesn't get the 2026 World Cup, blame Donald Trump," 12 June 2018 Where that holiday-week concert at Saint Andrew’s had a cozy family vibe, Tuesday’s show swaggered with the feel of a big-time event. — Brian Mccollum, Detroit Free Press, "Greta Van Fleet nails the high notes at Fillmore Detroit in homecoming kickoff," 23 May 2018 And Chris Robinson's swaggering, supple vocals and personal, poetic lyrics are some main reasons The Black Crowes were awesome. — Matt Wake, AL.com, "Chris Robinson talks Black Crowes, Jimmy Page, drugs, hot new tour," 10 Apr. 2018 Several swaggering Texas doctors are engaging protagonists throughout this decades-long story, and the suspense could give any true-crime podcast a run for its money. — Wired Staff, WIRED, "12 Books You Must Read This Summer," 25 May 2018 Singers and rappers could be swaggered out superheroes or African Queens, depending on the vibe. — refinery29.com, "Why Proms – Supersized, Superglam – Don’t Look Anything Like The Ones You Remember," 30 Apr. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Loose silhouettes and large hoopla earrings gave the collection a confident swagger — a little like the 28-year-old wunderkind designer Simon Porte Jacquemus himself. — Thomas Adamson, The Seattle Times, "Dior and Gucci theatrically kick off Paris Fashion Week," 24 Sep. 2018 This is a league built on simmering feuds, animosities, jealousies, hyper-sensitivity, theatrical swagger and bluster, chest-pounding and self-promotion. — Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, "A dynasty secured," 13 June 2018 In fact, someone with a familiar swagger and style provided a template for him almost three decades ago. — Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, "With a chance to change a legacy, Manziel goes north," 19 May 2018 And with that swagger, comes an uncanny trend of things breaking Real’s way. — Joshua Robinson, WSJ, "Real Madrid Survives and Advances to Champions League Final," 1 May 2018 The Fort Worth swagger is cocky, probably too cocky because the basketball isn’t that great there. — Peter Dawson, star-telegram, "First family of Fort Worth basketball still shining after careers at TCU, Kansas," 12 July 2018 Kickbacks to ad agencies, the primacy of the traditional ad firm, the old-fashioned media strategy plan, the swagger of Madison Avenue — all are things of the past. — David Shribman, BostonGlobe.com, "The ad industry is shifting. And it’s going to rattle us all," 8 June 2018 For something completely modern, yet still steeped in a genuine Shore swagger, visit Tony Baloney’s in Atlantic City (300 Oriental Ave.). — Craig Laban, Philly.com, "The best sandwiches at the Shore | Craig LaBan," 2 July 2018 Drinking at the bar at the Willard InterContinental Hotel, police said he was overheard plotting — perhaps in a boozy swagger — to jump the White House fence. — Peter Hermann, Washington Post, "A stolen shot of $1,200 whiskey just the start of man’s bar travels across the District, police say," 29 Mar. 2018

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.