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
Don’t brag about getting two first-round picks that will be in the mid-to-late 20s. Troy Renck, Denver Post, 29 Aug. 2025 All that changed, in this case, were the numbers, which the men who rule Cuba got to brag about in their speeches and reports. Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 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
How 'Intermezzo' sparked envy, became the galley brag of 2024 I, dear reader, am not above a galley brag. Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025 The humble brag is a new shiny toy for some people. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for brag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brag
Verb
  • With sensitive skin types in mind, the creamy, fragrance-free formula boasts a simple ingredient list, using glycerin and niacinamide to strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier and nonstripping micelles— molecules in micellar water—to tenderly wash away dirt and oil.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Few can boast career longevity like the cast of Downton Abbey.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Stargazing is a wonderful pursuit that appeals to both the casual and dedicated observer, but views outside of cities are often much clearer and brighter thanks to different levels of light pollution.
    Harry Bennett, Space.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Her Bluesky feed in the hours after Kirk’s murder was filled with inflammatory rhetoric.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 16 Sep. 2025
  • While detailing the first in-person meeting between her and Rodríguez, Pascal spoke about the specific rhetoric that trans actors sometimes come up against, which is that trans actors should connect with trans subjects based solely on identity, rather than the many other aspects of their humanity.
    Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • That rules, actually, that video is awesome.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • But the people there were awesome.
    Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • This display exposes the campaign’s braggadocio.
    Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 1 Sep. 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
  • Yet his work does demand greater attention.
    Mark Holgate, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Europe staged one of the greatest comebacks in Ryder Cup history, winning eight matches and halving another to clinch the Cup by half a point.
    Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • My senses sharpened, my breath slowed, and the chatter in my head went quiet.
    Daniel Scheffler, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • After plenty of chatter, Thug is attempting to finally control his narrative and the reclamation of the Atlanta rapper is on.
    Michael Saponara, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Brag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brag. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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