boast 1 of 2

Definition of boastnext

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
As a result, their image sharpness is quite similar, but the Roman telescope boasts a significantly larger camera and field of view. Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 And for a more lightweight option, the Radiant Finish Foundation boasts similar benefits with a slightly glowy result. Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
There are few places where contradictions between the president’s boasts and the economic reality of his tariffs are more likely to collide ahead of November’s midterm elections than in battleground Michigan, which holds its primary on Tuesday. Jacqueline Ganun, Fortune, 30 July 2026 Three suites—the Gotham Terrace, Tribeca, and Metropolis Suites—boast outdoor terraces, another rare city treat. Nina Ruggiero, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for boast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boast
Verb
  • Pitt receiver Tyreek Robinson’s fishing habit might never have reached Narduzzi’s attention if the Monongahela hadn’t coughed up a 5- to 6-pound bass worth bragging about.
    Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Noling's lawyers wrote in court documents that a man told authorities that his foster brother, Wilson, bragged about committing the crime.
    ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The filing says a witness reported seeing a gray GMC Denali towing a box trailer containing people, including children.
    Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Hugging Face’s, meanwhile, is a few pages shorter but contains specific lines of code and evidence from its systems about what happened.
    Emily Forlini, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Fifty-something years later, Rush remains a North American treasure.
    Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The steward of this American treasure since the patriarch died in 2013, Jeanie Buss dug in her Christian Louboutin heels in a fight to keep her family in the hierarchy of the purple and gold.
    Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • For half the price (or less), a fantastic and long-lasting minor-league stadium could be erected, perhaps as a jewel in the middle of a shopping, dining and nightlife district as Daytona Beach is trying to create.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Rojas is the biggest new name in town, the jewel of the Mets’ trade deadline sell-off.
    Tim Britton, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • What had been a highlight of his hunting career was turning into a soap opera, with Rompola painted as the villain by those who never saw the deer or the antlers and didn’t know much, if anything, about it.
    Richard P. Smith, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026
  • But the true highlight is the $650 discount Best Buy just threw on it.
    Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The win made Okamoto the first Japanese actress to receive Cannes’ best actress honor.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • During his captivity, his siblings organized weekly jam sessions in his honor at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square.
    Bianna Golodryga, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Eto’o was once one of the best players in the world, scoring countless goals and winning major trophies for the likes of Barcelona, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Real Madrid.
    Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The trophy that matters most, however — outstanding reality-competition program — has eluded it since the Television Academy created the category.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Stewart, while offering advice on ownership challenges, expresses pride and excitement for Briscoe, noting their relationship will evolve from idol/driver to friendly competitors.
    Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • And in doing so, everything gradually registers — the cadence of campus life, the pride pulsing through students and alumni, the weight of the institution’s history.
    Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Boast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boast. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster