Calvin Tomkins
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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
CBS News, 19 May 2026
At the time, West Ham held fifth place in the Premier League and was battling for a spot in the vaunted Champions League, a yearly competition for the top club teams in all of Europe.
—Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
The Thunder and Spurs met five times during the 2025-26 regular season, including in the semifinals of the vaunted NBA Cup.
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
The underdog Wild led 3-0 over the vaunted Avalanche after just one period.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for vaunted
Cite this Entry
“Vaunted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vaunted. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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vaunted
adjective
