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
Samsung didn't give the Flip 7 as much to brag about. PC Magazine, 9 July 2025 In the end, Kyle broke a glass jar, taking himself out of the challenge, and Kevin was able to bring back both the basic necessities and bragging rights to his tribe. Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Adjective
This will also give you a brag bank to pull from when the interviewer asks you to articulate your strengths. Dominique Law, Forbes, 10 Nov. 2021 The Wild Insulated Water Bottle Allow us to humble-brag about The Wild water bottle with the cool logo of the L.A. Times newsletter about the outdoors in Southern California. Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2021
Noun
The humble brag is a new shiny toy for some people. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024 The brag quickly caught the attention of Swift fans across social media, who rushed to attack Spector while defending Swift. Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for brag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brag
Verb
  • Meanwhile, the Supporting Actress category boasted the inclusion of Connie Britton, Jennifer Coolidge, Alexandra Daddario, Sydney Sweeney and Rothwell — almost sweeping the category save for two nominations for Dopesick actors Kaitlyn Dever and Mare Winningham.
    Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 15 July 2025
  • Unveiled at Palazzo Balbi in Venice on Tuesday, the medals boast a sleek aesthetic reflecting the country’s legacy in avant-garde design.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • So many wonderful age gap and power dynamics going on in this novel that really set the tone for a whole generation of writers to come.
    Hattie Williams July 14, Literary Hub, 14 July 2025
  • This no-churn ice cream recipe extracts all the wonderful flavor from the corn by simmering both the kernels and cobs in whipping cream and sweetened condensed milk to make sure every bite is filled with corn flavor.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • About four in 10 LGBTQ+ youth seriously consider suicide every year, according to the Trevor Project’s 2024 annual survey; meanwhile, 90% of LGBTQ+ youth said increasing political rhetoric targeting the community had negatively affected their mental health.
    Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 18 July 2025
  • His tirades against Ukraine stood out for their bloodthirsty rhetoric.
    Simon Shuster, Time, 17 July 2025
Adjective
  • This is an incredible honor, and an awesome responsibility.
    Sharon DeVivo, New York Daily News, 15 July 2025
  • Cargill hit an awesome Jaded from the top rope through a table.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • The most accomplished tracks excel at a carefree braggadocio and bottomless defiance foundational to hip-hop, fitting since Ice Spice hails from the Bronx, the birthplace of the culture.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2024
  • Ditto his distinctive appearance, trumped only by a persuasive smile that conveyed an innocence and friendliness somewhat at odds with his braggadocio tales and hedonistic tendencies.
    Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • When a person lacks humility, the deficiency will show up as being a braggart and disrespectful.
    Mary Crossan, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • He’s swept away in a sea of raves MILAN — Giorgio Armani is not a very good braggart.
    Tonya Blazio-Licorish, WWD, 17 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Dropping that grenade on the audience with so little time left to feel the impact does Jill little justice, but DeWitt does, in fairness, invest great pathos in her.
    Andy Crump, Time, 20 July 2025
  • This is a place where costumes do a lot of heavy lifting, and Cady is a great example, her wardrobe shows us what is happening to her inside.
    Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
Noun
  • There was the usual chatter about 'whether to rest the starters or not', but they good guys weren't going to lay down and hand those cocky Patriots a 16-0 record.
    Geoffrey Knox, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
  • If the enthusiasm for the F1 flick may have helped rev up ESPN2’s British Grand Prix deliveries—the July 6 race, won by McLaren’s Lando Norris, averaged 1.5 million viewers, up 19% versus the year-ago telecast—Cue’s offer may well supersede any chatter about linear TV ratings.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 10 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Brag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brag. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.

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