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
  • Kienholz showed off his mobility both as a runner and passer, effectively threw to all levels of the field and made clutch play after clutch play in the second half.
    Antonio Morales, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The bush is deciduous but shows off gold, orange, and red fall color.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 6 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • For a Western vibe Get a bit of cowboy cool with picks from Wrangler, Tecovas and more while shopping for Labor Day deals.
    Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Live actors would appear throughout, sometimes as gangsters in a noir crime movie, and sometimes as Wild West cowboys.
    Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The Arab coins, known as dirhams, are cut up and have similar inscriptions to those found in silver hoards from the 9th century, Nordjyske Museer said.
    Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
  • What parents can do on hectic mornings Nemours recommends doing as much as possible the night before, from setting out dishes to cutting up fruit.
    Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • Argentina strikes first in the 38th minute, and the massive Argentina faithful goes berserk inside the stadium.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Also, don’t get too out of control horsing around with friends in the water.
    John Natale, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026
  • According to McGrady, the only royal who didn’t enjoy the time away in the Highlands was the late Princess Diana, who didn’t fit in with the family’s outdoorsy vibes and didn’t enjoy riding horses around the property due to a fall as a child.
    Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Right in the middle of cheering, reveling masses was MARTA — a connective system of veins that efficiently moved the happy throngs.
    Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Mary Murphy, a young reporter from Queens, had been at Shea that night, reveling with her sisters in the upper loge section along the first-base line.
    Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 31 July 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
  • If Worthy goes for 100 yards and a touchdown in Week 1, the excitement will come roaring back.
    Jake Ciely, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • But for an audience to explode and roar their approval in the middle of a movie?
    Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Showboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/showboat. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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