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
Boise State had its 11th straight sellout Saturday night — a crowd of nearly 33,000 at Albertsons Stadium — but about half of the Bronco Nation that head coach Spencer Danielson likes to brag about didn’t come back after halftime. Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 12 Oct. 2025 Loyd, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray all bragged to Hammon on the championship podium that their plants are still alive — and ran with the metaphor all season of being planted, not buried. Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 11 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
  • At the top of that list is Luckin Coffee, a Chinese brand that has overtaken Starbucks in both sales and store count, boasting three times as many outlets in the country and coffee priced as low as one-third of Starbucks’ offerings.
    John Liu, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
  • This one, boasting tight rows of eucalyptus and olive leaves, gives off a bohemian look, something a bit more laid-back than the cold-weather heavy cedars or pines.
    Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • And so for me, baseball is a wonderful place to leave everything, all the mess that the world is in, behind, and just watch these incredibly talented people exceed and do their jobs.
    Alison Weinflash, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Scientists have long known that dogs make wonderful companions, offering emotional support and even measurable health benefits to their human owners.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Worthington said the rhetoric by Republicans in Pennsylvania is helpful, but limited in its effectiveness.
    Will McDuffie, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The Iraq War exposed just how hollow our rhetoric of freedom and democracy was.
    Shadi Hamid, Time, 3 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
  • Buzelis was awesome in preseason, for what that’s worth, and his 21-point, three-block performance in the opening night win over Detroit included several highlight-worthy clips.
    John Hollinger, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • While Plymouth may be known for turkey dinners and the Pilgrims, its food scene has evolved into an awesome melting pot embracing global cuisine.
    Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • There was a distinct set of tales dealing with demons who collected idle chatter in churches, and, over time, these stories were folded into the expanding legend of Tutivillus.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025
  • This year, all eyes are on just three contests nationwide—and most of the chatter has centered on Zohran Mamdani’s meteoric mayoral run across the Hudson as a democratic socialist.
    Nik Popli, Time, 30 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Brag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brag. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.

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