swagger
verb
swag·ger
| \ ˈswa-gər
\
\
swaggered;
swaggering\ ˈswa-g(ə-)riŋ
\
\
Definition of swagger
(Entry 1 of 3)
1
: to conduct oneself in an arrogant or superciliously pompous manner
especially
: to walk with an air of overbearing self-confidence
: to force by argument or threat : bully
swagger
noun
swag·ger
| \ ˈswa-gər
\
\
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
\
\
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
\
noun
\
noun
swaggeringly
\ ˈswa-g(ə-)riŋ-lē
\
adverb
\
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 Sometimes he sauntered through the streets of the old town. He looked with awe at the students of the corps, their cheeks gashed and red, who swaggered about in their coloured caps. — W. Somerset Maugham, Of Human Bondage, 1915 I, too, would swagger if I'd won first place in the bowling tournament. hoping to impress the women at the bar, the young man confidently swaggered across the roomNoun
He limps with a noticeable swagger, flamboyantly waving his cane, semi-ironically mimicking the rap stars who are now his peers. — Matt Diehl, Spin, September 2008 He greeted me with the swagger he's learned since he became a fighter pilot, smiling, his blue eyes glowing. — Matthew Klam, Harper's, February 1999 What a hero Tom was become, now! He did not go skipping and prancing, but moved with a dignified swagger as became a pirate who felt that the public eye was on him. — Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer, 1876 He has a swagger that annoys some of his teammates.
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 And yet there was never a sense of some behemoth swaggering to victory. — Jonathan Wilson, SI.com, "Brazil Shows Character, Quality in Winning Copa America, Restoring Faith," 7 July 2019 In such moments, Howland records the way Chicagoans actually speak: the casual diction, the swaggering tone, the musical mistakes. — Abigail Deutsch, Harper's magazine, "Bette on the Blues," 22 July 2019 Into which world swaggers one Marion Lee Thompson, who then does what only Thompson can do. — Mark Mahaney, Smithsonian, "Danny Thompson’s Blazing Nitromethane-Fueled Pursuit of Racing Glory," 10 July 2019 Their swaggering first-round performance leaves two ill-prepared boys open-mouthed like fish. — The Economist, "Debating contests teach Chinese students an argument has two sides," 15 June 2019 That looks prescient now, with swaggering space barons like Elon Musk... — Tom Shippey, WSJ, "Science Fiction: The New Off-World Economy," 17 May 2019 There are other schools in other states that don’t have [to contend with] a charismatic, swaggering CEO, so the dynamic is very different. — Sean Illing, Vox, "How corporate cash bought higher education," 14 Nov. 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
There’s a different swagger about the defense, a different energy. — Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, "‘DJ loves football’: Daniels wants to be difference-maker in South Alabama secondary," 19 Aug. 2019 The catfights, overacting and Berry's swagger in a skimpy, tight, leather outfit that would be right at home at a Hookers Ball make for campy fun. — Kirk Honeycutt, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Catwoman': THR's 2004 Review," 23 July 2019 The 23-year-old Texan’s swagger is one of the intangibles that, combined with a smoking fastball and dastardly change-up, makes a special night seem possible any time his turn in the rotation comes up. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Paddack takes no-hitter into eighth, Padres hold on to beat Marlins," 18 July 2019 For Williams, swagger has never been in short supply. — Scott Patsko, cleveland.com, "Greedy Williams is still in his ‘humble stage’ but gaining confidence," 6 June 2019 Through history and myth, Inland revives and reframes the Camel Corps experiment, eschewing macho cowboy swagger in favor of what those cowboys might have missed. — Katherine Cusumano, Outside Online, "The Forgotten History Behind ‘Inland’," 18 Aug. 2019 The male roles of Collin and Leonard are under-written; Damian Leverett and Mikell Sapp amiably capture, respectively, the charm and the swagger of the millennial male. — Dominic P. Papatola, Twin Cities, "Review: ‘Hot Asian Doctor Husband’ really funny, but needs streamlining," 18 Aug. 2019 Bradley has enough swagger as the Elvis-wannabe, Feallock ably switches between the sweet and charming tomboy who finally wears a dress to attract Chad, to cross-dressing as another roustabout named Ed in order to befriend Chad. — Elizabeth Marie Himchak, Pomerado News, "REVIEW: ‘All Shook Up’ is lots of Elvis-inspired fun," 7 Aug. 2019 With equal parts swagger, relentlessness and ability, Tianna Randle made sure the fastest girl in Houston resides at Summer Creek. — Adam Coleman, Houston Chronicle, "Q&A: Summer Creek's Tianna Randle, AGH track & field girls athlete of the year," 18 June 2019These 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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