bravado

noun

bra·​va·​do brə-ˈvä-(ˌ)dō 

plural bravadoes or bravados

1

a

: blustering swaggering conduct

youthful bravado

b

: a pretense of bravery

2

: the quality or state of being foolhardy

Did you know?

Displays of bravado may be show-offish, daring, reckless, and inconsistent with good sense—take, for example, the spectacular feats of stuntpeople—but when successful they are still likely to be met with shouts of "bravo!" Celebrities, political leaders, corporate giants, and schoolyard bullies, however, may show a different flavor of bravado: one that suggests an overbearing boldness that comes from arrogance or a position of power. The word bravado originally comes from the Old Italian adjective bravo, meaning "wild" or "courageous," which English has also to thank for the more ubiquitous brave.

Examples of bravado in a Sentence

His stories are always told with bravado.

I remember his youthful bravado.

Recent Examples on the Web

For all its bravado about withstanding the American tariffs, China was also censoring criticisms of its own move to impose retaliatory tariffs. —David Pierson, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025

However, underneath the bravado, Quinn is enigmatic and is capable of downright scheming to fulfill her visions. —Lisa Stardust, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025

But beneath the bravado lay a significant change of plan. —Stephanie Halasz, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025

To see David put all the bravado aside and open up about his life in that way was pretty shocking. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 13 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French bravade & Old Spanish bravata, from Old Italian bravata, from bravare to challenge, show off, from bravo

First Known Use

circa 1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for bravado

• machado
• mikado
• adelantado
• avocado
• desperado
• incommunicado

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Kids Definition

bravado

noun

bra·​va·​do brə-ˈväd-ō 

plural bravadoes or bravados

: a display of reckless or pretended bravery