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
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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
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Jennifer Lawrence shows off her baby bump in a Bottega Veneta gown at the Governors Awards on Nov. 17 in Los Angeles. 89 of 120 Fore!Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
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The comedian also showed off his black eye under his eye patch.Lauryn Overhultz, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2024
Noun
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But the real breakout is Kyle Schmid as the cowboy who runs this ragtag team of NIS investigators.Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2024
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Dillahunt will play modern cowboy William Macon, a self-righteous, conspiracy-minded man who masks his ruthless ambition behind a charming and calculated facade.Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024
Verb
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For example, the Everglades lost at least 70% of its tree island land cover since 1940 as the land has been cut up into sections that either dry out or flood.Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 23 Oct. 2024
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How To Make Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Prep bacon: To make this recipe even easier, cut up your bacon before cooking it.Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 9 Oct. 2024
Noun
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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
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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
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After five teenage boys are shown horsing around on a Malibu beach for a few seconds, the shot dissolves into Liam’s perfect coif, his unbuttoned shirt, his disarming smile.Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
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The Game of Thrones alum, 28, was seen horsing around with the British aristocrat at a polo match at his family's estate in West Sussex, England on Saturday, June 29.Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 3 July 2024
Verb
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Biden appears to revel when Republicans boo or jeer him.Washington Post, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024
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Cramer noted that Price appeared to revel after Ford had his fingerprints and picture taken during the county’s standard booking process.East Bay Times editorial, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Players were in a dorm room fooling around with a gun.Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2024
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Why fool around with a convention that everyone understood and practiced?Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 7 Oct. 2024
Verb
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The powerful cyclone unleashed widespread wind gusts of 60 to nearly 80 mph through western Washington while even stronger winds up to 101 mph roared just off the coast, according to the National Weather Service in Seattle.Mary Gilbert, CNN, 20 Nov. 2024
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White closed the set by lining up with his touring band for a final bow to the roaring crowd.Mars Salazar, Austin American-Statesman, 15 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near showboat
Cite this Entry
“Showboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/showboat. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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