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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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

There are other schools in other states that don’t have [to contend with] a charismatic, swaggering CEO, so the dynamic is very different. — Sean Illing, Vox, "How corporate cash bought higher education," 14 Nov. 2018 The most sexed-up take on the look saw one guy swaggering down the runway like a cheeky gunslinger. — Liana Satenstein, Vogue, "Are You Ready for the Return of Tighty-Whities? Gucci Sure Is," 25 Sep. 2018 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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Her Mueller had been a terrific send-up of the swagger and poise some Americans have about the implications ofhis investigation. — David Sims, The Atlantic, "Saturday Night Live," 12 Mar. 2018 But as the record shows, the Zips now have some late-season swagger, even building a little trash-talking reputation to go with it. — Elton Alexander, cleveland.com, "MAC Tournament 2018: Men's quarterfinals offer upset chances (video)," 8 Mar. 2018 Someone who probably is a starter or first guy off the bench who can bring some swagger and a winning attitude. — Scott Bordow, azcentral, "Phoenix Suns Managing General Partner Robert Sarver says team needs swagger, winning attitude," 6 Mar. 2018 The Jayhawks rediscovered their Allen Fieldhouse magic with a late rally against West Virginia, then picked up some swagger with a 30-point win over Oklahoma. — Jesse Newell, kansascity, "How this KU team extended The Streak in a way all its own | The Kansas City Star," 24 Feb. 2018 But a team that's fed off its own hyper-competitive ethos may not have the horses to compete, especially at corner, nor enough of the swagger that made this group so dominant for so long. — Nate Davis, USA TODAY, "Seahawks training camp questions: Will Russell Wilson finally have help?," 19 June 2018 Johnson, tall and ripped, young and rich, striding the fairways with the swagger of a pirate-ship captain. — Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, "Sunlight, spotlight shine on unheralded Ted Potter Jr.," 10 Feb. 2018 The swagger 52 points per game brings never leaves. — Scott Springer, Cincinnati.com, "For Moeller basketball's Jaxson Hayes and Loveland's Jillian Hayes, mama shoots best," 8 Jan. 2018 Earlier this season, fellow freshman Isaiah Livers, Poole's roommate, credited his classmate for infusing a different sense of swagger into the rest of the roster. — Nick Baumgardner, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan basketball's Jordan Poole made for March, all its madness," 18 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.