BOAST Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'boast' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of boast are brag , crow , and vaunt . While all these words mean "to express pride in oneself or one's accomplishments," boast often suggests ostentation and exaggeration, but it may imply a claiming with proper and justifiable pride. // boasts of every trivial success // the town boasts one of the best museums in the area

Q: When might 'brag' be a better fit than 'boast'?

The words brag and boast can be used in similar contexts, but brag suggests crudity and artlessness in glorifying oneself. // bragging of their exploits

Q: When is 'crow' a more appropriate choice than 'boast'?

In some situations, the words crow and boast are roughly equivalent. However, crow usually implies exultant boasting or bragging. // crowed after winning the championship

Q: How is 'vaunt' related to other words for 'boast'?

Vaunt usually connotes more pomp and bombast than boast and less crudity or naïveté than brag . // vaunted his country's military might

boast 1 of 2

verb

Definition of boast

as in to brag

to praise or express pride in one's own possessions, qualities, or accomplishments often to excess he boasted about his latest killing in real estate so I thought he should be the one to pay for dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to contain

to have within the hotel boasts nearly 50 rooms

Synonyms & Similar Words

boast

2 of 2

noun

ˈbōst

as in treasure

an asset that brings praise or renown the school's boast was a winning football team

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word boast distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of boast are brag, crow, and vaunt. While all these words mean "to express pride in oneself or one's accomplishments," boast often suggests ostentation and exaggeration, but it may imply a claiming with proper and justifiable pride.

boasts of every trivial success

the town boasts one of the best museums in the area

When might brag be a better fit than boast?

The words brag and boast can be used in similar contexts, but brag suggests crudity and artlessness in glorifying oneself.

bragging of their exploits

When is crow a more appropriate choice than boast?

In some situations, the words crow and boast are roughly equivalent. However, crow usually implies exultant boasting or bragging.

crowed after winning the championship

How is vaunt related to other words for boast?

Vaunt usually connotes more pomp and bombast than boast and less crudity or naïveté than brag.

vaunted his country's military might

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of boast

Verb

Ibrahim chose West Town, an area that today boasts about two dozen galleries. — Rima Suqi, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026 Its ocean boasts rich fishing grounds and critical seabed minerals. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 10 July 2026

Noun

The Trumpian superlative tic took his boasts well beyond the general. — Dan Alexander, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 The International Federation of American Football counts football-playing members in 79 countries, but the global governing bodies of basketball and soccer boast federations in more than 200 countries. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for boast

Recent Examples of Synonyms for boast

Verb

The world’s richest men brag about getting their information from X posts, podcasts, and conversations with chatbots.

— Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
Investigators determined that earlier in the evening, Diaz and the victims were attending a party at or near the park and that Diaz had been bragging about having a new gun, firing it once into the air.

— Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 8 July 2026

Definition of brag

Verb

During Arriaga’s autopsy, medical examiners found her blood to contain the opiate Demerol at 793 nanograms per milliliter, according to the warrant.

— Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026
Each cluster contained a simple RLC resonator — a resistor, capacitor, and inductor, a combination that creates an oscillating electrical signal at a particular frequency.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 15 July 2026

Definition of contain

Noun

Here's what to know about one of Europe's most significant historical treasures.

— Tiago Ventura, Time, 10 July 2026
In return, the British Museum will loan treasures from the Sutton Hoo hoard — artifacts from a 7th century Anglo Saxon ship burial — and other items to museums in Normandy.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 July 2026

Definition of treasure

Noun

With each passing day that the jewels remain missing, fears grow that these pieces of French national heritage have been dismantled, their famed emeralds, sapphires, and diamonds cut apart and sold on the black market.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 13 July 2026
Considered the jewel of the offseason Ryan Weathers trade with the Yankees, Lewis is second in the Southern League with 17 homers.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026

Definition of jewel

Noun

Working with longtime makeup artist Ernesto Casillas, Z showcased a glowy, poreless base with super soft rosy blush diffused on her cheeks, finished with a natural, luminous highlight across her cheekbones like a dapple of sunlight.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 15 July 2026
Another sale highlight, and the only item other than the pen and switch set to sell for six figures, was the pressure hatch from the Skylab III command module, flown to and from the United States’ first space station in 1974.

— Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 15 July 2026

Definition of highlight

Noun

Back in February, the guild bestowed its top film honors on Frankenstein — which went on to win Best Makeup & Hairstyling at the Academy Awards — Sinners and One Battle After Another.

— Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 14 July 2026
The Daytime Emmy Awards nominations come on the heels of IndieWire winning Best Website at this June’s SoCal Journalism Awards, the second year in a row the website received the honor.

— Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 14 July 2026

Definition of honor

Noun

Golden Boot History The top scorer in the World Cup has been recognized since 1930, but the award got an official name and trophy, the Golden Shoe, in 1982.

— Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
France’s departing coach, Didier Deschamps, is already a World Cup great, having won the title as France’s captain in 1998 and led the team to the trophy 20 years later.

— Steve Douglas, AJC.com, 13 July 2026

Definition of trophy

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“Boast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boast. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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noun

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