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
Bevacqua, who still lives in San Diego, doesn’t brag about the Game 2 victory. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025 But where are the customer brags? Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 9 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
  • Today’s furniture industry instead relies on a global talent pool, with places like the Philippines and Indonesia boasting the skilled workforce that North Carolina once had.
    Matt Egan, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Perhaps, the most notable aspect of Sexton since his arrival centers around an area the Hornets have lacked in recent years while boasting one of the NBA’s youngest rosters.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • She's been gone for over 20 years, and so to win this for a soap opera, playing a villain, is really wonderful.
    Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Some, like the two headlining Christie’s upcoming Rare Watches auction in Geneva, have wonderful horological anomalies that set them apart from more run-of-the-mill references.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • With tariff rhetoric back at the forefront, analysts warned sentiment could quickly unravel.
    Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
  • None of this is helped by the last few years of fiery political rhetoric around transgender youth.
    Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • On our campus, Bobbi Acosta, our (assistant principal), and principal Juan Gonzalez have been more than awesome.
    John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
  • That was an awesome couple of months.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 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
  • Given these complex three-way dynamics, Delhi will likely continue to upgrade ties to the Taliban regime, and support its efforts to gain greater independence from Pakistani influence.
    Happymon Jacob, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Reese had some great tunes for her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut.
    Bethy Squires, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Similar chatter has emerged during past election years since the dawn of the 22nd Amendment, but usually in a more light-hearted nature.
    Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
  • The celebratory July 4 meal would certainly have kept the innkeeper, Daniel Smith, busy replenishing the finest bottles of Madeira from behind the locked bar—perhaps overhearing snippets of chatter among the delegates.
    Victoria Flexner, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Brag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brag. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

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