swagger

verb swag·ger \ ˈswa-gər \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

Definition of swagger

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

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

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swaggerer

play \ˈswa-gər-ər\ noun

—

swaggeringly

play \ˈswa-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

Jeffrey Dean Morgan shows up to chew some scenery as a swaggering cowboy of a government agent.

— katie walsh, Detroit Free Press, "Review: ‘Rampage’ is big, dumb fun," 12 Apr. 2018
Woods used to be the world's most daunting sports goliath, at once swaggering and stony, admired by some, resented by more, feared by all.

— bill plaschke, latimes.com, "Tiger Woods isn't done. He could win The Masters. Are you kidding me?," 4 Apr. 2018
As zoo experts reached through grid fencing to perform the ultrasound Thursday, Baraka swaggered about, with his forbidding visage and considerable bulk.

— michael e. ruane, Washington Post, "National Zoo awaits arrival of its first baby gorilla in nine years," 26 Mar. 2018
That proposal, a precipitous pileup of boxes squeezed between two stately wings, swaggered visibly.

— justin davidson, The Cut, "What Would a World Designed by Women Look Like?," 20 Mar. 2018
The rest of the cast plays off Alexander wonderfully, notably Charles Grant as best friend Eddie, Jared Mack as coach Joe Martin and Damaris Webb as mother Odessa. Gerrin Mitchell gets to go over the top as swaggering neighborhood bully Corky Baker.

— amy wang | the oregonian/oregonlive, OregonLive.com, "A lively, inspiring look at Muhammad Ali's early life as Cassius Clay," 7 Mar. 2018
Other than that, this part of scouting season is largely devoid of swaggering, Sonny Weaver-type moments.

— conor orr, SI.com, "Another NFL Combine Is in the Books. What Did It All Mean?," 6 Mar. 2018
The #MeToo movement will involve other sports teams, where too many employees believe that swaggering, testosterone-fueled behavior is a prerogative of the workplace.

— ann killion, San Francisco Chronicle, "Dallas Mavericks’ misogyny shows much work to be done," 21 Feb. 2018
Forced turnovers lead to transition baskets, and that's when their swaggering hair is at its best.

— joseph goodman, AL.com, "Signature hairstyles add element of fun to Alabama basketball," 19 Feb. 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.

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

Phrases

blow smoke;

swagger

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.