vaunted

adjective

vaunt·​ed ˈvȯn-təd 

ˈvän-

: highly or widely praised or boasted about

… his own much vaunted ferocity …

—Calvin Tomkins

Did you know?

Vaunted Has Latin Roots

The verb vaunt has been used since the 15th century with the meaning “to make a vain display of one’s own worth or attainments”—in other words, “to brag or boast.” Over time, vaunt developed the meaning “to boast of (a particular thing),” as in “the promotional flier vaunts the natural beauty of the area,” and that use gave rise to the adjectival form vaunted. The history of vaunt and vaunted leads back to the Latin word vānus, with the meanings “lacking content, empty, illusory, marked by foolish or empty pride.” The word vain itself is also a descendant of vānus.

Examples of vaunted in a Sentence

The team's vaunted defense faltered in the second half of the game.

Recent Examples on the Web

The much-vaunted film was never made. —Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026

At one point in that stretch, Minnesota’s vaunted defensive duo of Faber and Hughes grinded through a 3-minute, 13-second shift. —Michael Russo, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026

Realistically, though, with a tough schedule, and the vaunted 2026 recruiting class needing time to develop, 2027 might be a better opportunity for SC to really compete for a title. —Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026

Cuba’s once-vaunted health system is collapsing. —The Week Us, TheWeek, 20 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of vaunt entry 1

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for vaunted

• daunted
• flaunted
• haunted
• taunted
• wanted
• undaunted
• unwanted

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

vaunted

adjective

vaunt·​ed ˈvȯnt-əd 

ˈvänt-

: much praised or boasted about

the team's vaunted offense