bravado
noun
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Displays of bravado may be show-offish, daring, reckless, and inconsistent with good sense—take, for example, the spectacular feats of stuntpeople—but when successful, they are still likely to be met with shouts of "bravo!" Celebrities, political leaders, corporate giants, and schoolyard bullies, however, may show a different flavor of bravado: one that suggests an overbearing boldness that comes from arrogance or from being in a position of power. The word bravado originally comes from the Italian adjective bravo, meaning "wild" or "courageous," which English can also thank for the more common brave.
Examples of bravado in a Sentence
Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
Where there is excitement and bravado, Neto can also show dejection when the results aren’t going in his favor.
—Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 20 May 2026
This thematic turn stood in contrast to some of the stronger moments of the past seasons, when real affection and tenderness — between Rue and Jules, for example — cut through the hard shell of the show’s bravado.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 18 May 2026
Unexcused lateness followed by the bravado of an ego display does not make for a great shared experience.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for bravado
Cite this Entry
“Bravado.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bravado. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
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bravado
noun
