braggadocio

noun

brag·​ga·​do·​cio ˌbra-gə-ˈdō-sē-ˌō How to pronounce braggadocio (audio)
-shē-,
-chē-,
-(ˌ)shō,
-(ˌ)chō
plural braggadocios
1
a
: empty boasting
b
: arrogant pretension : cockiness
the air of swaggering braggadocio that all important men are expected to show in fightingC. W. M. Hart
2

Did you know?

Though Braggadocio is not as well-known as other fictional characters like Pollyanna, the Grinch, or Scrooge, in lexicography he holds a special place next to them as one of the many characters whose name has become an established word in English. The English poet Edmund Spenser originally created Braggadocio as a personification of boasting in his epic poem The Faerie Queene. As early as 1594, about four years after the poem was published, English speakers began using the name as a general term for any blustering blowhard. The now more common use of braggadocio, referring to the talk or behavior of such windy cockalorums, developed in the early 18th century.

Examples of braggadocio in a Sentence

a loudmouthed braggart who hid his cowardice with braggadocio his braggadocio hid the fact that he felt personally inadequate
Recent Examples on the Web You’d be forgiven for taking the title of their new album, Easy Being A Winner, as a bit of not-undeserved-but-slightly-delusional braggadocio. Ryan Leas, SPIN, 3 Oct. 2024 Lyles’ bravado and braggadocios style has become part of his global persona; the Adidas athlete even advocated for his own signature sneaker at the podium on Sunday. Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 6 Aug. 2024 In fact, Moscow has been annoyed by Assad’s recent braggadocio about reasserting total control. Rajan Menon, Foreign Affairs, 29 Feb. 2016 Many of the traits now so associated with the former president — the tendency to pit people against one another and braggadocio — appeared first in the family patriarch. Manuel Roig-Franzia, Washington Post, 24 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for braggadocio 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'braggadocio.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Braggadochio, personification of boasting in Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of braggadocio was in 1594

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Dictionary Entries Near braggadocio

Cite this Entry

“Braggadocio.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/braggadocio. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

braggadocio

noun
brag·​ga·​do·​cio ˌbrag-ə-ˈdō-shē-ˌō How to pronounce braggadocio (audio)
-sē-ˌō,
-shō
plural braggadocios
1
2
: loud and empty boasting
Etymology

from Braggadochio, a boasting character in literature

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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