1
as in boasting
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 strutting
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 cocky
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swaggering
Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
His swaggering boots remained powerfully on.
—Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Josh Safdie takes us on a chaotic, sprawling globetrot to break down the swaggering hubris of a ping-pong prodigy who can’t being insufferable.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 7 Oct. 2025
Plus, Jude Law brings his movie star charisma as the swaggering pirate captain Jod Na Nawood, who helps the kids find their way back home (for reasons far from mere goodwill).
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
Advertisement Gudsen's fractured identity—swaggering machismo versus devoted family man—might suggest dissociative identity disorder, but Lehane resists reducing him to a clinical label.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 15 Aug. 2025
Schmitt is easygoing inside the Capitol and a swaggering culture warrior outside of it.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Josh Safdie takes us on a chaotic, sprawling globetrot to break down the swaggering hubris of a ping-pong prodigy who can’t being insufferable.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
With his deathly pallor and Byronic charm, Stamp was perfect as the self-destructive, swaggering scoundrel who is haunted by visions of a spectral little girl.
—Christina Newland, Vulture, 22 Aug. 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
With that, the trio of Joe, Nick and Kevin Jonas come swaggering and smiling from the wings, strolling to the tip of a catwalk together, the professional differences that splintered their brotherly union for a spell neatly compartmentalized for 2 ½-hours of polished pop digested by adoring fans.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
Their mother began a relationship with a swaggering alcoholic, their future stepfather, who mocked Scott for being soft.
—Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
His swaggering boots remained powerfully on.
—Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Josh Safdie takes us on a chaotic, sprawling globetrot to break down the swaggering hubris of a ping-pong prodigy who can’t being insufferable.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 7 Oct. 2025
Plus, Jude Law brings his movie star charisma as the swaggering pirate captain Jod Na Nawood, who helps the kids find their way back home (for reasons far from mere goodwill).
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
Advertisement Gudsen's fractured identity—swaggering machismo versus devoted family man—might suggest dissociative identity disorder, but Lehane resists reducing him to a clinical label.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 15 Aug. 2025
Schmitt is easygoing inside the Capitol and a swaggering culture warrior outside of it.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Josh Safdie takes us on a chaotic, sprawling globetrot to break down the swaggering hubris of a ping-pong prodigy who can’t being insufferable.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Adjective
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
With his deathly pallor and Byronic charm, Stamp was perfect as the self-destructive, swaggering scoundrel who is haunted by visions of a spectral little girl.
—Christina Newland, Vulture, 22 Aug. 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
With that, the trio of Joe, Nick and Kevin Jonas come swaggering and smiling from the wings, strolling to the tip of a catwalk together, the professional differences that splintered their brotherly union for a spell neatly compartmentalized for 2 ½-hours of polished pop digested by adoring fans.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swaggering
Verb
-
This is the time of year when the interior designer’s brand truly shines, with seasonal drops boasting brass advent calendars and full-sized faux spruce trees.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The pop star went with dark gray pointy-toe heels boasting a lace-up silhouette that wrapped around her ankles.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Footwear News,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Project Runway is strutting into another season on Freeform, Disney+ and Hulu.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
21 Oct. 2025
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Thousands of canines put their best paw forward, strutting down Avenue B in the East Village for the city's beloved tradition that began as a small event at Tompkins Square Park Dog Run—the city's first and largest dog park—in 1990.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Don’t come on too hard or cocky; give practical reasons that showcase how your experience will benefit the company.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
-
But their terrific new Some Like It Hot is even cockier, steamier, more insistent — one of the year’s kickiest indie-rock thrillers.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Snyder, who has since penned a letter to the San Francisco Chronicle bragging about his Dungeons & Dragons skills, is awaiting trial separately at the Stanton Correctional Facility.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Oct. 2025
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California has slipped a notch in the bragging-rights totem pole to the world’s fifth-largest economy in the latest update on global business output.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Ferrari’s latest one-off is a tribute to one of the most legendary prancing horses of them all.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Plus, the icy pastel hues are reminiscent of ballerinas prancing in The Nutcracker.—
Brandi Fuller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Could the wound spring of questioning and longing and relationship anxiety sound bombastic, or fun, or like an ’80s pop song?—
Eric Torres,
Pitchfork,
20 Oct. 2025
-
His bombastic style, unfiltered rhetoric, and policy disruptions galvanized the Republican base while triggering a seismic reaction among Democrats.—
Nafees Alam,
Boston Herald,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Removing some of the deeper-developing routes also limits Justin Jefferson’s best strength, his long-striding deception.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
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Daedone, using the hashtags #ErosOnTrial, #EroticJustice, #liberation, and #womenspower, frequently posted on Instagram, showing pictures and slow-motion videos of herself and Cherwitz, often flanked by female OneTaste supporters, striding into the courthouse.—
Thessaly La Force,
New Yorker,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
In Greek mythology, Orion was a powerful and talented hunter who incurred the wrath of the gods for being too boastful about his own skills.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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Of course, people make boastful statements of dubious merit all the time, but, as our story explains, Robinson has monetized his fantasies by selling development masterclasses to aspiring writers and offering other services for a fee.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swaggering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swaggering. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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