brag 1 of 3

Definition of bragnext

brag

2 of 3

adjective

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
The world’s richest men brag about getting their information from X posts, podcasts, and conversations with chatbots. Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026 Investigators determined that earlier in the evening, Diaz and the victims were attending a party at or near the park and that Diaz had been bragging about having a new gun, firing it once into the air. Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 8 July 2026
Adjective
Do not blunder into a situation of getting caught with a brag afoot. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024 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
Noun
If the turquoise waters of the Caribbean are calling your name, consider Bonaire as your spring break brag. Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026 The entertainment industry is no stranger to individuals who espouse contested stories about screen hits, but the producers of Legacy of Lies have grown tired of his brags. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for brag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brag
Verb
  • The company boasts short wait times, one-on-one time with physicians and large, private rooms with baths and televisions, and catered meals, according to prior Statesman reporting.
    Rose Evans July 24, Idaho Statesman, 24 July 2026
  • Tom Burrows Crystal Palace As well as their FA Cup and UEFA Conference League titles in the past two seasons, Palace now boast a World Cup winner in Yeremy Pino.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Adjective
  • And this World Cup was about Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and all of Spain’s wonderful passers.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • To be in, like, the very first episode to the last, a show that is now being spun off to other stories, that is so wonderful.
    Bethy Squires, Vulture, 22 July 2026
Noun
  • Now, the rhetoric has expanded beyond the candidates themselves, pulling Scholten — who is not running for governor — into the political crossfire.
    Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 21 July 2026
  • In other words, Lander did not feel the need to appease the Zionist mob by softening his rhetoric.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
Noun
  • Clayton is cool and kind and a big braggart.
    Wendy Paris, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
  • Not to become a braggart, but to amplify my or our team’s success on projects or risk going unnoticed.
    Lintao "LT" Lu, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • There are good footballers, there are great footballers and then there is Messi, who plays as if he has been sent here from another dimension, a superior life form inside the 5ft 7in frame of a normal guy from Rosario, Argentina.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • Healthcare's greatest crisis isn't financial or technological.
    Sachin H. Jain, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
Noun
  • With every passing game, Marsch’s braggadocio attracted largely negative headlines around the world.
    Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 7 July 2026
  • In person, Huang subdues his ironic braggadocio with polite eye contact and rolling belly laughs at his own jokes.
    Mariella Rudi, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • The story is told from Dah’s perspective, as Jocelyn—who displays a quasi-mystical rapport with fighting cocks—suffers an emotional breakdown, putting their business and their lives in danger.
    The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 26 July 2024
  • The former became fighting cocks and the latter became sows.
    Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 6 June 2023
Adjective
  • One hundred would be awesome, though, so that my children can get all the publishing.
    Ernesto Lechner, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
  • James was a Fanatics Fest participant and was reunited with the paper, which was at the Celebrity Mint table, completing an awesome full-circle moment.
    David Betancourt, New York Times, 20 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Brag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brag. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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