brag 1 of 3

brag

2 of 3

adjective

brag

3 of 3

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word brag distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of brag are boast, crow, and vaunt. While all these words mean "to express pride in oneself or one's accomplishments," brag suggests crudity and artlessness in glorifying oneself.

bragging of their exploits

When is boast a more appropriate choice than brag?

Although the words boast and brag have much in common, 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 would crow be a good substitute for brag?

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

crowed after winning the championship

How is vaunt related to other words for brag?

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 brag
Verb
Anyone who brags excessively about his or her offspring on social media will immediately be incarcerated for at least a week. Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 22 Oct. 2025 Snyder, who has since penned a letter to the San Francisco Chronicle bragging about his Dungeons & Dragons skills, is awaiting trial separately at the Stanton Correctional Facility. Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The benefits of a brag book Part of growing your salary comes with asking for a raise, which Tu believes most workers aren’t asking for often enough. Jane Thier, Fortune, 6 Dec. 2022 Now, after the latest iteration of Kellyoke on the Kelly Clarkson Show, the host can add performing the knockout collaboration live alongside the country icon herself to her list of brag-worthy accomplishments. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 1 Dec. 2022
Noun
That means consistently putting yourself first by updating your résumé, utilizing LinkedIn, getting recommendations, continuing professional development and keeping your brag book ready, Kennedy says. Alyshia Hull, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025 Archetypal playboy Eddie Irvine has always loved a humble brag, renowned for accumulating a long list boys toys assets after following a successful F1 career. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 24 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for brag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brag
Verb
  • Only last year, Maduro boasted about the results of those reforms, claiming his country’s GDP was growing at 8% and that inflation was at the lowest rate in four decades.
    Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Despite boasting one of the highest payrolls in baseball, New York failed to reach the postseason, closing out the regular season with an 83-79 record.
    Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The Christos honored their promise by gifting me with a wonderful collage in addition to my one-dollar paycheck.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
  • That scene was so incredibly awkward… and wonderful.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • While Petro repeatedly promoted the idea of a return to Gran Colombia, his right-hand man, Benedetti played down the president’s rhetoric.
    Alfie Pannell, Miami Herald, 10 Nov. 2025
  • For executives who depend on cross-border production and financing, the rhetoric adds another layer of uncertainty.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • WeRide is a member of this year’s Future 50, Fortune’s annual ranking of companies with the greatest potential for growth.
    Sydney Lake, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
  • After looking over the latest update from Jim Bowden, the odds of Bregman staying with the Red Sox are not looking too great currently.
    Drew VonScio, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The album is a hot mess of conflicted emotions, empty braggadocio, poor technique, and heartbreaking yet tiresome crying jags.
    Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The first singles from Carey’s 16th album are dripping with braggadocio with her inimitable voice wafting like smoke.
    Matthew Schnipper, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Still, Kimmel never came off as a braggart.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Even aside from Trump’s own enthusiastic personal immorality and impiety, his political style — the pugnacious smear artist and demagogic braggart — was the antithesis of what evangelicals had sought before.
    Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The guys are awesome; everybody’s been super welcoming.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
  • And what Moana has represented is a really awesome global embrace of Polynesian culture, our values and our qualities and our pride and our mana.
    Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Famed for launching Downton Abbey, the network has been courting sale interest for well over a year, but for all the industry chatter and press speculation, ITV’s silence has been stony.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 8 Nov. 2025
  • In the case of Copeland, has noted that his name has not even been brought up within WWE, even with the online chatter.
    Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Brag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brag. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

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