1
as in to boast
to praise or express pride in one's own possessions, qualities, or accomplishments often to excess
I, too, would swagger if I'd won first place in the bowling tournament
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to strut
to walk with exaggerated arm and leg movements
hoping to impress the women at the bar, the young man confidently swaggered across the room
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in chic
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in bravado
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of swagger
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
On it, Sombr elevates the bedroom pop of his earlier work, giving it a more muscular, swaggering sound.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025
Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
In Iowa State’s five wins, QB Rocco Becht has hung tough in the pocket but also showed swagger extending plays.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 30 Dec. 2025
And Rose City Band’s Sol y Sombra quietly became my unofficial drive-time gospel this year, all JJ Cale ease and those honeyed, unhurried guitar tones that glide with a faint Lou Reed New Sensations swagger.
—Rolling Stone, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swagger
Verb
Oscar Isaac‘s Victor Frankenstein is part 18th-century dandy and part swaggering Swinging Sixties rock star, as if Lord Byron had been genetically spliced with Brian Jones.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
On it, Sombr elevates the bedroom pop of his earlier work, giving it a more muscular, swaggering sound.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
For a guy who claimed to be insecure about his vocal prowess, Ace is all swagger, peacocking his way through the city with a fistful of dollars and wicked ladies pursuing him.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
In Iowa State’s five wins, QB Rocco Becht has hung tough in the pocket but also showed swagger extending plays.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
The Breakfast Inn A name like The Breakfast Inn comes baked in with some swagger.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 30 Dec. 2025
And Rose City Band’s Sol y Sombra quietly became my unofficial drive-time gospel this year, all JJ Cale ease and those honeyed, unhurried guitar tones that glide with a faint Lou Reed New Sensations swagger.
—Rolling Stone, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swagger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swagger
Verb
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Alongside the new Luminous Silk Natural Glow Blurring Foundation, makeup artist Melissa Hernandez used the brand’s Luminous Silk Hydrating and Brightening Concealer, which boasts a creamy, radiant formula to brighten and smooth dark circles and blemishes.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
21 Jan. 2026
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The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, consisting of 30 stocks, boasts a history of consistently outperforming its benchmark that covers the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000 indices.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Teigen strutted down the black-and-red carpet in black patent-leather D’Orsay pumps with dainty ankle straps.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
9 Jan. 2026
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The rest of the parade went and members of the string bands played and strutted without props.—
Raymond Strickland,
CBS News,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Between February and March, everyone in Florence was bundled in a scarf, which made keeping warm in cold temperatures effortlessly chic.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Jan. 2026
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The open shelf keeps decorations on display and TV remotes handy, while the two drawers underneath offer chic hiding spots for clutter when unexpected guests stop by.—
Brittany VanDerBill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Brash bravado when extreme caution is required can be fatal.—
Dana Kelley,
Arkansas Online,
9 Jan. 2026
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As the miles stack up and the rules tighten (three warnings, then you’re shot), Jonsson charts the slow erosion of bravado into something far more fragile.—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang,
Refinery29,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Hate on Rocky for being the kind of overconfident talker who never seems to know when to stop bragging.—
Mosi Reeves,
Rolling Stone,
19 Jan. 2026
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He has been caught slurring speech, seemingly falling asleep during meetings and bragging about taking the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, used to test for dementia, multiple times.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The president strode into office with a promise to turn the page on America’s decades of foreign entanglements.—
Aamer Madhani,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Jan. 2026
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Ironically, the biggest chance of the game came from his replacement, Josko Gvardiol, who strode forward unmarked to meet a cross that was excellently saved by Robin Roefs, finding himself in the penalty area on multiple occasions after coming on.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
1 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The clean double-breasted buttons instantly add elegance to your airport outfit, especially when paired with a matching Amazon Essentials Turtleneck and sleek black Libin Wide-leg Dress Pants to keep you warm and comfortable from takeoff to arrival.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
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Take a cue from Nicole Kidman and swap bulky trainers for a sleeker option that styles effortlessly from the plane to wherever the day takes you.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach take turns transforming into floating marketplaces — docks converted to catwalks, hulls polished to reflective arrogance, sales reps who can quote fuel burn like yacht owners care about costs.—
Eric Barton,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Jan. 2026
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College football is awash in problems, including the Big Ten’s unrivaled arrogance, and its never-ending list of demands that would make Notre Dame blush.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swagger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swagger. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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