boastful

adjective

boast·​ful ˈbōst-fəl 

: given to or marked by boasting : expressing excessive self-pride

a vain, boastful man

A few of the … parents are downright boastful about their sons.

—Jane Gross

… journalists who are only too willing to take at face value the boastful pronouncements of the company's publicity department.

—Jeffrey Young

At the highest levels, the administration's response to the crisis has been sluggish, characterized by boastful rhetoric but stagnant funding.

—The Washington Post

boastfully

ˈbōst-fə-lē 

adverb

If her new acquaintance wants to talk about plants, she might mention a few of her own, never boastfully, but with a pleasant tone of surprise, as if her parlor palm and the other person's had coincidentally attended the same high school.

—David Sedaris

Of the confidence reposed in him by Hudig—the master—he was boastfully and obtrusively proud.

—Joseph Conrad

boastfulness noun

Villars' military and diplomatic career under two kings of France was enormously successful, but his boastfulness and cupidity were notorious.

—David Wykes

Examples of boastful in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As a result, women often downplay their accomplishments for fear of being seen as too ambitious or boastful. —European School Of Management and Technology - Berlin, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024

That’s a mighty boastful statement considering the Titans’ history. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Dec. 2023

Instead of making boastful resolutions and unsuccessfully trying to keep them, there is a different approach. —Maureen MacKey, Fox News, 30 Dec. 2023

Gerry Turner was left in tears after one woman’s surprise departure, and there was no love lost between Kathy and Theresa, who fought over Theresa’s boastful attitude after getting the first one-on-one date of the season. —Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 13 Oct. 2023

This week, Dua Lipa returns with an addictive new dance track, Jack Harlow is feeling the love, and Kodak Black gets boastful. —Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2023

During the women’s conversation with Trista, Theresa was first to spill the details of her first one-on-one date with Gerry Turner, which annoyed Kathy after their fallout over her boastful attitude on last week’s episode. —Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 20 Oct. 2023

Ever! centers on Charlotte (Graham) dealing with jealousy over her college friend Jackie (Norwood) sending boastful holiday newsletters every year. —Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Oct. 2023

And forget about boastful labels and logos in the age of quiet luxury. —Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 2 Oct. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above