showboat 1 of 2

Definition of showboatnext
as in to show off
to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior the gymnast was showboating for the cameras when she lost her balance and fell

Synonyms & Similar Words

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showboat

2 of 2

noun

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 showboat
Verb
After taking a 3-1 lead in extra time, France began to showboat. — Peter Carline, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2026 This year showboats a trio of headliners that represent musical innovation and the contagious spirit of dance. — Malik Peay, Essence, 12 June 2025
Noun
Stephanie Weeks, a Black actress and director who is a frequent Target Margin collaborator, wears one of these WHITE sashes as Julie, the showboat’s leading lady, as does Edwin Joseph, playing her husband and co-star, Steve. — Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2025 Still, the factor that may have been most harmful were his relationships with fellow Republican lawmakers, who regarded him as an empty showboat willing to hurt the party to gain attention. — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for showboat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for showboat
Verb
  • They can be planted along foundations, add height and layers to flower beds, or planted as an accent to show off fall color, beautiful blooms, or other interesting features.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2026
  • His wife and frequent collaborator Bianca Censori sat front row, naturally showing off one of her husband’s latest boot designs.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Unfortunately, negotiating with Uber and DoorDash takes time, money, and lawyers, and though those repercussions might show up eventually, and maybe even prove effective, e-bike cowboys are getting bolder, faster, and more defiant by the day.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The reigning Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year, who was a rodeo cowboy in his youth, has worked with Justin Boots on a collection of men’s boots.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Californios’ reign began to vanish even before the discovery of gold, when droughts and floods wiped out their easygoing livelihoods, and their lands were cut up, sold off, and their land grants swept aside by the new state.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The board's original proposal called for cutting up to 18 English learner teachers across the district.
    — Beret Leone, CBS News, 30 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • To top it off, iconic moves like the drill claw and berserker barrage are trapped behind individual cooldown meters.
    — Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Haaland lifted his finger to his ear and looked into the crowd, where Norway fans were going berserk.
    — Tim Rohan, NBC news, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • And lo, that’s how The Godfather wound up horsing around on a bouncy sorta-rap cut with London’s club muse and scene gadfly Normski.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Also, don’t get too out of control horsing around with friends in the water.
    — John Natale, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The video sweeps around a reveling fiefdom, showing everyone from peasants to dukes partying and getting it on.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Navarrete reveled with one woman over her husband’s release from a detention facility.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • As Marshall and Alice consider one another and then start to fool around, the sequence feels organic and dangerous without being forced.
    — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Another horny couple on vacation couldn’t wait until their flight landed to fool around and insisted on doing so in the plane's cabin.
    — Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • And when Brooks mentioned the guy was from Topeka, the crowd roared even louder.
    — Rashad Alexander November 7, Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Amid slipping vaccination rates nationwide and the spread of anti-vaccine misinformation and rhetoric, the virus has come roaring back, and the country’s elimination status is likely to be stripped.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 6 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Showboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/showboat. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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