brag 1 of 3

Definition of bragnext

brag

2 of 3

adjective

brag

3 of 3

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word brag distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of brag are boast, crow, and vaunt. While all these words mean "to express pride in oneself or one's accomplishments," brag suggests crudity and artlessness in glorifying oneself.

bragging of their exploits

When is boast a more appropriate choice than brag?

Although the words boast and brag have much in common, boast often suggests ostentation and exaggeration, but it may imply a claiming with proper and justifiable pride.

boasts of every trivial success
the town boasts one of the best museums in the area

When would crow be a good substitute for brag?

In some situations, the words crow and brag are roughly equivalent. However, crow usually implies exultant boasting or bragging.

crowed after winning the championship

How is vaunt related to other words for brag?

Vaunt usually connotes more pomp and bombast than boast and less crudity or naïveté than brag.

vaunted his country's military might

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 brag
Verb
In messages previously made public, the agent bragged about his marksmanship. Natasha Korecki, NBC news, 6 Feb. 2026 No president since the Civil War has ever publicly bragged about the Mexican-American War in official proclamations. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
The benefits of a brag book Part of growing your salary comes with asking for a raise, which Tu believes most workers aren’t asking for often enough. Jane Thier, Fortune, 6 Dec. 2022 Now, after the latest iteration of Kellyoke on the Kelly Clarkson Show, the host can add performing the knockout collaboration live alongside the country icon herself to her list of brag-worthy accomplishments. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 1 Dec. 2022
Noun
Like any good barbecue IRL, the chat is mostly meat pics, cooking tips (with a dose of half-brags) and occasional smack talk. Farhan Mustafa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025 Share real results without the humble brags. Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for brag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brag
Verb
  • The car boasts its own bar, dining area, and lounge, along with dedicated stewards, a pantry and kitchen, and the opportunity to transition into a theatrical space or dance floor, the company shared with Travel + Leisure.
    Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2026
  • The great room of the house, a space inspired by the forest city Caras Galadhon in The Lord of the Rings, boasts a cathedral ceiling that soars 40 feet in the air and is crossed by branches, tree limbs and vines.
    Mark Lamster Architecture Critic, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Playing a thinly disguised version of himself, Reynolds is, as Schneeberger and Neibaur point out, funny, exasperating, and moving, and Rifkin’s impeccable tailoring of the role to fit his star gives Reynolds a wonderful summation with which to end his career.
    Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Welcome to the wonderful world of better coffee.
    Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Executives at the show, which closes on Sunday, pointed to shifting alliances and tougher rhetoric from major powers as a catalyst for the trend.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Lowering prescription drug costs is a worthy objective, and TrumpRx may be a bold approach in rhetoric, but the proposal as currently discussed leaves crucial implementation questions unanswered.
    Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • There’s also a 55% greater chance of obesity and a 40% higher probability of developing type 2 diabetes.
    Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Punishing success is a great formula for losing the successful.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Timmy’s Marty promotional tour was loud and brash — viral Zoom videos, Soulja Boy routines in Brazil, standing atop the Sphere in Las Vegas — and had a lot of people wondering if his decision to adopt a Marty Mauser-style braggadocio would ultimately hurt his chances to win over Oscar voters.
    Vulture Editors, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2026
  • But the tonal change from braggadocio to lionization is notable, Reisman slipping at times into the giddiness of a die-hard fan meeting their idols.
    Julien Levy, Rolling Stone, 27 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Of the many incarnations of the narcissist, there is the braggart, and there is also the neurotic.
    Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
  • Still, Kimmel never came off as a braggart.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The nearly 150,000-square-foot museum has too many awesome exhibits to list here, but one of the most popular is the year-round indoor butterfly garden.
    Elena Donovan Mauer, Parents, 8 Feb. 2026
  • The free agent class has been awesome.
    Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Out in the hallway, the raucous chatter of teenagers echoed in the halls, and cars honked on the busy street outside to pick them up.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The container shipping company has been the subject of recent chatter regarding a possible sale.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 9 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Brag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brag. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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