as in cocky
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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
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
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Recent Examples of swaggering
Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Decades later, times may have changed, but the appeal of that swaggering style endures.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 20 Jan. 2026
And her co-stars—Jacob Elordi as a brooding Heathcliff, Alison Oliver as an angelic Isabella Linton, Hong Chau as a steely Nelly Dean, and Shazad Latif as a swaggering Edgar Linton—would also be subverting our expectations.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 10 Jan. 2026
Rossein figured the book — a 1974 memoir of a swaggering Jewish table tennis savant named Marty Reisman in mid-century New York — might interest her husband, the filmmaker Josh Safdie.
—Julien Levy, Rolling Stone, 27 Dec. 2025
Needless to say, Farrell’s swaggering performance in Minority Report launched his career and was soon followed by major roles in Phone Booth, Daredevil and Alexander.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025
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 would not come off, actually.
—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
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2026
The timing of such self-reflection was notable, on the direct horizon of an AFC divisional-round matchup against a Bills team that’ll require calls-to-the-wall swaggering from Payton.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026
This skinny kid from Norman, Oklahoma, swaggering up and down the court.
—Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Die a hero, or live long enough to become Gen Z’s swaggering grandfather.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 28 Dec. 2025
Katy Perry was swaggering about in a garish new hat.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 28 Nov. 2025
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
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
Adjective
But the dudes can take a victory lap today, celebrating the nomination of Joseph Kosinski’s swaggering, vroom-vroom sports movie.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Decades later, times may have changed, but the appeal of that swaggering style endures.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 20 Jan. 2026
And her co-stars—Jacob Elordi as a brooding Heathcliff, Alison Oliver as an angelic Isabella Linton, Hong Chau as a steely Nelly Dean, and Shazad Latif as a swaggering Edgar Linton—would also be subverting our expectations.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 10 Jan. 2026
Rossein figured the book — a 1974 memoir of a swaggering Jewish table tennis savant named Marty Reisman in mid-century New York — might interest her husband, the filmmaker Josh Safdie.
—Julien Levy, Rolling Stone, 27 Dec. 2025
Needless to say, Farrell’s swaggering performance in Minority Report launched his career and was soon followed by major roles in Phone Booth, Daredevil and Alexander.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025
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 would not come off, actually.
—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
Verb
Two swaggering outlaws roll into a mining town and unleash a wave of cruelty.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2026
The timing of such self-reflection was notable, on the direct horizon of an AFC divisional-round matchup against a Bills team that’ll require calls-to-the-wall swaggering from Payton.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026
This skinny kid from Norman, Oklahoma, swaggering up and down the court.
—Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Die a hero, or live long enough to become Gen Z’s swaggering grandfather.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 28 Dec. 2025
Katy Perry was swaggering about in a garish new hat.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 28 Nov. 2025
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
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
Adjective
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Their roles are reversed when O’Brien’s cocky, young CEO must look to McAdams’ strategic planning and survival know-how to stay alive.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
30 Jan. 2026
-
But everybody’s favorite NFL linebacker is allowed to be cocky.—
Samyra,
SELF,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But the musician appears ready to play larger venues again, with his 2026 itinerary boasting gigs at numerous amphitheaters around the country.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Analysts appear confident on the company for now, with Walmart boasting 47 buy-equivalent ratings to go along with just three holds and one sell, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.—
Bloomberg Wire,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Bovino, strutting around in body armor or his distinctive long coat, seemed to relish his role as a villain to his critics, encouraging aggressive tactics by federal agents and sometimes engaging in them himself.—
Adam Serwer,
The Atlantic,
27 Jan. 2026
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Each brand showed strikingly light, almost ice-blue denim for spring and summer, resulting in pairs that looked like they’d been worn (and loved) for years before strutting the runway.—
Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Their rhetoric has been bombastic.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The film, a follow-up to her eponymous memoir, would offer a window into the first lady’s private, sphinx-like world, in contrast to that of her bombastic, spotlight-seeking husband.—
Stacy Perman,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That used to be expected with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, hardly a bragging point — and certainly never a defense.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
29 Jan. 2026
-
California has regained its bragging-rights ranking as the world’s fourth-largest economy.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Photos shared by the agency show Buddy prancing away in the daylight, as well as Buddy seemingly caught like a deer in headlights at night.—
Brian Anthony Hernandez,
PEOPLE,
8 Dec. 2025
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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
Adjective
-
Follow up with clear documentation and updates so your efforts are visible but not boastful.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Laemmle, footing the bill for these sumptuous methods, saw an opportunity to position Universal as a spare-no-expense enterprise, with a billboard in Times Square keeping boastful track of the ever-mounting budget.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
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After striding back to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors chambers, county staff said there was no reportable action stemming from the closed session.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
5 Dec. 2025
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In it, Meryl Streep as Priestly is seen striding in red heels through the offices of fictional magazine Runway.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
12 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swaggering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swaggering. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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