vaunted

adjective

vaunt·​ed ˈvȯn-təd 

ˈvän-

: highly or widely praised or boasted about

… his own much vaunted ferocity …

—Calvin Tomkins

Did you know?

Vaunted Has Latin Roots

The verb vaunt has been used since the 15th century with the meaning “to make a vain display of one’s own worth or attainments”—in other words, “to brag or boast.” Over time, vaunt developed the meaning “to boast of (a particular thing),” as in “the promotional flier vaunts the natural beauty of the area,” and that use gave rise to the adjectival form vaunted. The history of vaunt and vaunted leads back to the Latin word vānus, with the meanings “lacking content, empty, illusory, marked by foolish or empty pride.” The word vain itself is also a descendant of vānus.

Examples of vaunted in a Sentence

The team's vaunted defense faltered in the second half of the game.

Recent Examples on the Web

Orlando’s once-vaunted defense also regressed considerably, dropping out of the top 10 after ranking second behind OKC a year ago. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2026

As far as Cruz Azul is concerned, LAFC could be catching a break since the return leg takes place 85 miles away from its vaunted home Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. —Josh Gross, Daily News, 13 Apr. 2026

But that was before the Trojans won 19 games in a row to start the season, the longest such streak in the program’s vaunted history. —Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026

Since the Labour Party returned to power in 2024, Starmer is seeking to ramp up British defense spending, partly at the cost of cutting the country's long-vaunted aid spending. —ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of vaunt entry 1

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for vaunted

• daunted
• flaunted
• haunted
• taunted
• wanted
• undaunted
• unwanted

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Kids Definition

vaunted

adjective

vaunt·​ed ˈvȯnt-əd 

ˈvänt-

: much praised or boasted about

the team's vaunted offense