1 swagger | Definition of swagger

swagger

verb
swag·​ger | \ ˈswa-gər How to pronounce swagger (audio) \
swaggered; swaggering\ ˈswa-​g(ə-​)riŋ How to pronounce swaggering (audio) \

Definition of swagger

 (Entry 1 of 3)

intransitive verb

1 : to conduct oneself in an arrogant or superciliously pompous manner especially : to walk with an air of overbearing self-confidence
2 : boast, brag

transitive verb

: to force by argument or threat : bully

swagger

noun
swag·​ger | \ ˈswa-gər How to pronounce swagger (audio) \

Definition of swagger (Entry 2 of 3)

1a : an arrogantly self-confident way of walking : an act or instance of swaggering
b : arrogant or conceitedly self-assured behavior
c : ostentatious display or bravado
2 : a self-confident outlook : cockiness

swagger

adjective
swag·​ger | \ ˈswa-gər How to pronounce swagger (audio) \

Definition of swagger (Entry 3 of 3)

: marked by elegance or showiness : posh

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Other Words from swagger

Verb

swaggerer \ ˈswa-​gər-​ər How to pronounce swaggerer (audio) \ noun
swaggeringly \ ˈswa-​g(ə-​)riŋ-​lē How to pronounce swaggeringly (audio) \ adverb

Synonyms for swagger

Synonyms: Verb

blow, boast, brag, bull [slang], crow, gasconade, vapor, vaunt

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Examples of swagger in a Sentence

Verb

He copped a plea, ratted out a dozen no-neck pals and swaggered off to prison, leaving South Beach temporarily without a pied piper. — Carl Hiaasen, New York Times Book Review, 22 Feb. 2009 So it is a fight rather than an argument, really—a fight over complexity versus ease, a fight that mostly mimics gang war, which is not so much a vigorous instance of manly bloodletting (though it is that too) as a dustup over prestige: who has the prior right to swagger in public. — Cynthia Ozick, Harper's, April 2007
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Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

There’s something about plaid pants — collegiate yet cool, nerdy yet swaggering, prim yet slightly punky. — Sharon Graubard, courant.com, "Fashion report: Cool classics for fall," 15 Aug. 2019 Mr Taylor, a swaggering former navy SEAL with an incandescent smile, was swept from office in 2018 after a single term by an anti-Trump tsunami. — J.s. | Richmond, The Economist, "Senator Mark Warner of Virginia appears to be heading for a third term," 1 Aug. 2019

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

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First Known Use of swagger

Verb

circa 1596, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1725, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1879, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for swagger

Verb, Noun, and Adjective

probably from swag entry 1 + -er (as in chatter)

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