as in to show off
to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior
the gymnast was showboating for the cameras when she lost her balance and fell
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of showboat
Justin Chang, chicagotribune.com, 12 Sep. 2019
Three quarters of sleepwalking, showboating and unwatchable basketball, followed by one quarter of the most intense and least-artistic basketball of the season.
—Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, 16 Feb. 2020
Amy Nicholson, Variety, 7 Sep. 2023
But for all his talent and confidence as a performer, composer and bandleader, Shorter was frequently overshadowed by showboats, not least his Weather Report bandmate Jaco Pastorius.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for showboat 
Verb
There are no showboating gestures here, only a bone-deep commitment to showing us the lives of individuals often relegated to the cinematic sidelines, to the extent that the movies even notice them all.
—Justin Chang, chicagotribune.com, 12 Sep. 2019
Three quarters of sleepwalking, showboating and unwatchable basketball, followed by one quarter of the most intense and least-artistic basketball of the season.
—Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, 16 Feb. 2020
Noun
Her character, Corrine, is bold and sparkly, the kind of showboat who leaps atop a bar to belt Wham!
—Amy Nicholson, Variety, 7 Sep. 2023
But for all his talent and confidence as a performer, composer and bandleader, Shorter was frequently overshadowed by showboats, not least his Weather Report bandmate Jaco Pastorius.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for showboat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for showboat
Verb
-
Aaron’s shirtless photo shows off his abs, which were also on display in Kraven the Hunter.Daniel S. Levine, People.com, 1 Jan. 2025
-
This is an interesting case as many of the initial trailers had very positive ratios, but the more gameplay was shown off and people realized just how much this was a live service looter shooter, fan support evaporated.Paul Tassi, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Growing up south of Dallas-Fort Worth as the descendant of horse-raising cowboys directly impacts how folk, country, soul and rock uniquely intertwine to form his sound.Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 29 Dec. 2024
-
Ranch hands Ennis del Mar and Jack Twist share a tent and hard labor like all cowboys do, but their fellowship evolves into something deeper.Lizz Schumer, People.com, 28 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The receiver was the one who reacted first to the broken play, cut up the field to find open space and adjusted backward to the ball.Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2024
-
Others were frozen and cut up, their torsos, skull bones, legs and arms leased out to for-profit companies and the military.Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
There’s no evidence to suggest that the bear went berserk after overdosing, as the trailer, which went viral in December, shows.Michael O'Sullivan, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Feb. 2023
-
The word berserk exists in our dictionaries thanks to the Norse tales of these superhuman warriors.Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 21 Mar. 2022
Verb
-
Among racing’s many problems is that there are no dedicated air shipping companies that make moving horses around the country easy.John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 25 Dec. 2024
-
Video went viral just days before the beginning of the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Dujardin was seen repeatedly whipping a horse around its legs.Scott Thompson, Fox News, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
But historically Black colleges and universities have reason to revel, as some have seen record increases.Ira Porter, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Nov. 2024
-
Long after the stadium had cleared out, her fans could still be heard reveling outside on the concourse.Zack Pierce, The Athletic, 9 Aug. 2024
Verb
-
While the siblings have the habit of getting into troubles and to only use their creative skills to fool around, Michael sees in them a real talent.Maelle Beauget-Uhl, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
-
Players were in a dorm room fooling around with a gun.Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
But Ball – just 2-for-9 from the field in the first half – erased the deficit with a personal 5-0 flurry, making a layup through traffic and a 3-pointer from the wing that made the crowd roar.Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 19 Dec. 2024
-
The maverick says he was almost wiped out by the 1997 Asian financial crisis and again in December 2004 when a tsunami roared across many parts of Asia, killing at least 225,000 people, including guests and staff at his Anantara resort at Khao Lak, north of Phuket.Ron Gluckman, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near showboat
Cite this Entry
“Showboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/showboat. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share