1 flaunt | Definition of flaunt
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

flaunt

verb
\ ˈflȯnt How to pronounce flaunt (audio) , ˈflänt\
flaunted; flaunting; flaunts

Definition of flaunt

intransitive verb

1 : to display or obtrude oneself to public notice a great flaunting crowd— Charles Dickens
2 : to wave or flutter showily the flag flaunts in the breeze

transitive verb

1 : to display ostentatiously or impudently : parade flaunting his superiority a chance to flaunt clothes, bodies, and sexuality — New Yorker
2 : to treat contemptuously flaunted the rules— Louis Untermeyer
Other Words from flaunt Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Flaunt vs. Flout: Usage Guide More Example Sentences Learn More about flaunt

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from flaunt

flaunt noun
flauntingly \ ˈflȯn-​tiÅ‹-​lÄ“ How to pronounce flauntingly (audio) , ˈflän-​ \ adverb
flaunty \ ˈflȯn-​-​tÄ“ How to pronounce flaunty (audio) , ˈflän-​ \ adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for flaunt

show, exhibit, display, expose, parade, flaunt mean to present so as to invite notice or attention. show implies no more than enabling another to see or examine. showed her snapshots to the whole group exhibit stresses putting forward prominently or openly. exhibit paintings at a gallery display emphasizes putting in a position where others may see to advantage. display sale items expose suggests bringing forth from concealment and displaying. sought to expose the hypocrisy of the town fathers parade implies an ostentatious or arrogant displaying. parading their piety for all to see flaunt suggests a shameless, boastful, often offensive parading. nouveaux riches flaunting their wealth

Flaunt vs. Flout: Usage Guide

Although the "treat contemptuously" sense of flaunt undoubtedly arose from confusion with flout, the contexts in which it appears cannot be called substandard. meting out punishment to the occasional mavericks who operate rigged games, tolerate rowdyism, or otherwise flaunt the law — Oscar Lewis observed with horror the flaunting of their authority in the suburbs, where men … put up buildings that had no place at all in a Christian commonwealth — Marchette Chute in our profession … very rarely do we publicly chastise a colleague who has flaunted our most basic principles — R. T. Blackburn, AAUP Bull. If you use it, however, you should be aware that many people will consider it a mistake. Use of flout in the sense of "flaunt, parade" is found occasionally. "The proper pronunciation," the blonde said, flouting her refined upbringing, "is pree feeks" — Mike Royko

Examples of flaunt in a Sentence

She liked to flaunt her wealth by wearing furs and jewelry. They openly flaunted the rules.

Recent Examples on the Web

 Some riders wear their birthday suits, while others flaunt their underwear or sport just a splash of body paint and glitter. — USA TODAY, "Burro bandits, sugarcane shake-up, naked bike ride: News from around our 50 states," 26 Aug. 2019 This medieval-inspired stone castle flaunts arched portals, flying buttresses, towers, onion domes, a moat and a drawbridge. — Tom Noel, The Know, "9 odd places that you should include on a Colorado road trip, from a giant hot dog to fake cliff dwellings," 25 Aug. 2019 And now there were seven impeccable musicians instead of four, all eager to flaunt their skills and test their creative limits. — Piet Levy, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Vampire Weekend reach a new peak at astounding 'Father of the Bride' tour stop in Milwaukee," 9 June 2019 While her Golden Globes dress flaunted a pattern on it that many thought resembled fish scales, many on Twitter thought her gown on Sunday night looked a lot like a honey comb. — Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, "Emma Stone's 2019 Oscars Dress Is Basically a Sequin-Covered Honey Comb," 25 Feb. 2019 Her performance was a tug of war between a diva showcase, one that flaunted her singing, and a dance-pop extravaganza, which is typically the stock in trade of less polished vocalists. — Jon Caramanica, New York Times, "Ariana Grande Was Updating Pop. Then Billie Eilish Came Along.," 21 June 2019 Centuries before Wade and his peers transformed the NBA tunnel, Roman gladiators paraded around the Colosseum pit flaunting purple-and-gold cloaks—or, as with second-century emperor Commodus, a lion’s pelt—before trying to slaughter one another. — Alex Prewitt, SI.com, "How Athletes Are Turning Arena Entrances into Fashion Shows," 22 July 2019 Scarlett O’Hara is a totally extra queen bee flaunting her privilege all over her family’s super problematic plantation until the Civil War starts and things get cray. — Mary Cella, The New Yorker, "Classic Female-Authored Novels Rebranded as Chick Lit," 18 July 2019 Bernhardt became a superstar by flaunting her agency — her intelligence, her ambition, her artistic vision, her independence — and by using that agency to cow journalists and wow the public. — Sharon Marcus, Vox, "The first modern celebrity was born 175 years ago," 26 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flaunt.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of flaunt

1566, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

History and Etymology for flaunt

perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse flana to rush around

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for flaunt

flaunt

verb
How to pronounce flaunt (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of flaunt

: to show (something) in a very open way so that other people will notice
: to show a lack of respect for (something, such as a rule)

See the full definition for flaunt in the English Language Learners Dictionary

flaunt

verb
\ ˈflȯnt How to pronounce flaunt (audio) \
flaunted; flaunting

Kids Definition of flaunt

1 : to wave or flutter in a showy way The flag flaunts in the breeze.

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!