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
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 But a homeowner who nabbed a 3% mortgage in the low-interest years might still be bragging about it to the neighbors. Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 24 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
  • The three new watch models boast upgraded health features, fast charging, longer battery lives and a variety of finishes, styles and price points.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The layout, designed by architect Lek Bunnag, boasts groupings of villas and semi-private pools with a main central Moon Pool and bar located on the cliffside.
    Alissa Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • But if Julia’s delivery of her first child is about as wonderful as pushing a human out of your body can get — even the lighting is dreamy — her second child’s delivery is the exact opposite.
    Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Morticia has this wonderful lighter look into the world as opposed to Wednesday.
    Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Between February and May, when Dudek’s tenure ended, his erratic rhetoric and decisions routinely made front-page news.
    Eli Hager, ProPublica, 8 Sep. 2025
  • By moving from rhetoric to large-scale military action, Maduro is signaling that Venezuela will fight drug trafficking on its own terms while resisting Washington's narrative of Caracas as a narco-state.
    Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • And that in turn could help protect hardware like satellites and people like astronauts from these dangerous but awesome eruptions.
    Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The cameras in smartphones these days are nothing short of awesome.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • This display exposes the campaign’s braggadocio.
    Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 1 Sep. 2025
  • Gulf Coast braggadocio, coupled with an incredibly effective government relations team, makes Bollinger an exciting-sounding partner.
    Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 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
  • Two types of story dominated the chatter in the newsroom this week.
    Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Read the Room While everyone’s all for friendly chatter before the game or between plays, once the ball’s in the air, many folks will want to focus all attention on what’s happening on screen.
    Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Brag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brag. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

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