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View synonyms for boastful

boastful

[ bohst-fuhl ]

adjective

  1. given to or characterized by boasting. boast.

    Synonyms: egotistic, vainglorious, cocksure, pompous, cocky, conceited



boastful

/ ˈbəʊstfʊl /

adjective

  1. tending to boast; characterized by boasting
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈboastfulness, noun
  • ˈboastfully, adverb
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Other Words From

  • boastful·ly adverb
  • boastful·ness noun
  • over·boastful adjective
  • over·boastful·ly adverb
  • over·boastful·ness noun
  • un·boastful adjective
  • un·boastful·ly adverb
  • un·boastful·ness noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of boastful1

First recorded in 1275–1325, boastful is from the Middle English word bostful. See boast 1, -ful
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Example Sentences

But at times he sounds boastful, observing that “people trust me, I have never failed”, and insisting his work was “not a serious crime in Vietnam”.

From BBC

In my family you were not allowed to be immodest or boastful.

He is beyond boastful, talking ad nauseum about how he knows more than all the experts in their respective fields.

From Salon

The lyrics find the star in boisterous, boastful form - revelling in his successes in music, fashion and on the acclaimed TV show Top Boy.

From BBC

Like the malicious, boastful schoolboy he will forever be, Donald Trump smirkingly twists apt descriptions of himself and his often cartoonishly deranged acts against those who point out his transgressions.

From Salon

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More About Boastful

What does boastful mean?

Boastful is used to describe someone who is known for boastingbragging, especially in a way that exaggerates or shows excessive pride about the boaster’s skills, possessions, or accomplishments.

Boastful is especially used to describe a person who boasts all the time. It can also be used to describe such claims, as in He made boastful claims about all of the awards he had won.

Boastful people most often boast about themselves—their skills, their possessions, or the things that they have accomplished—but a person can also be boastful about someone else. A parent might be boastful about their child’s accomplishments, for example.

Example: No one has ever actually seen him perform, but that doesn’t stop him from being boastful about how good he is.

Where does boastful come from?

The first records of the word boastful come from around 1300. Its base word, boast, comes from the Middle English bosten, but its ultimate origin is uncertain.

People who are described as boastful are often trying to make their accomplishments or skills seem greater than they actually are. But this isn’t always the case—a person’s boasts may be true. Still, saying that a person is boastful usually means that they are thought to lack humility—that they are too prideful.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to boastful?

  • boastfully (adverb)
  • boastfulness (noun)
  • boast (verb)

What are some synonyms for boastful?

What are some words that share a root or word element with boastful

What are some words that often get used in discussing boastful?

How is boastful used in real life?

Boastful is almost always used in a negative way to criticize a person for bragging too much.

Try using boastful!

Which of the following words could be used to describe someone who is known for being boastful?

A. braggadocious

B. prideful

C. conceited

D. all of the above

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