as in arrogance
confident or brave talk or behavior that is intended to impress other people
His stories are always told with bravado. I remember his youthful bravado.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bravado
Jared Speight is a stubborn titan of Long Island abstraction when star writer Roxy Margaux first becomes infatuated with his bravado.
—
Greg Evans, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026
One key tactic the Germans learned from Americans was that American sports reporting and sensationalizing was meant to show bravado, while the Nazi variant was deliberately used to numb and mislead.
—Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
Already, despite the president’s surface bravado, an undercurrent of nervousness had emerged.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
Named after a 17th-century swashbuckling sailor, Jost Van Dyke brims with a bravado that would make even a pirate proud.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bravado
Greg Evans, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026
One key tactic the Germans learned from Americans was that American sports reporting and sensationalizing was meant to show bravado, while the Nazi variant was deliberately used to numb and mislead.
—Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
Already, despite the president’s surface bravado, an undercurrent of nervousness had emerged.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
Named after a 17th-century swashbuckling sailor, Jost Van Dyke brims with a bravado that would make even a pirate proud.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bravado
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bravado
Noun
-
The doctor further explained that the traits of a narcissist encompass low empathy, arrogance, entitlement, grandiosity and pathological selfishness.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
-
They both, in a good way, reek of confidence – not arrogance but confidence.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Even so, nuclear is the closest point of convergence between the two parties — a rare area where attitudes are narrowing rather than widening.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
But the team attitude appears to be in a healthy place.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bravado.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bravado. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
