boast 1 (b st)v. boast·ed, boast·ing, boasts v.intr. To glorify oneself in speech; talk in a self-admiring way. v.tr. 1. To speak of with excessive pride. 2. To possess or own (a desirable feature): "[the] capital of a region in the southeast that boasts bountiful coal fields" (US Air). 3. To contain; have. n. 1. The act or an instance of bragging. 2. A source of pride. [Middle English bosten, from bost, a brag.] boast  er n.boast ful adj.boast ful·ly adv.boast ful·ness n.Synonyms: boast1, brag, crow2, vaunt These verbs all mean to speak with pride, often excessive pride, about oneself or something related to oneself. Boast is the most general: "We confide [that is, have confidence] in our strength, without boasting of it; we respect that of others, without fearing it" (Thomas Jefferson). Brag implies exaggerated claims and often an air of insolent superiority: He bragged about his grades. Crow stresses exultation and often loud rejoicing: No candidate should crow until the votes have been counted. Vaunt suggests ostentatiousness and lofty extravagance of expression: "He did not vaunt of his new dignity, but I understood he was highly pleased with it" (James Boswell). Usage Note: Some have objected to the use of boast as a transitive verb meaning "to possess or own (a desirable feature)," as in This network boasts an audience with a greater concentration of professionals and managers than any other broadcast vehicle. This usage is by now well established, however, and is acceptable to 62 percent of the Usage Panel. |
| boast 2 (bst) tr.v. boast·ed, boast·ing, boasts To shape or form (stone) roughly with a broad chisel. [Origin unknown.] |
boastful [ˈbəʊstfʊl]
adj
tending to boast; characterized by boasting
boastfully adv
boastfulness n
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Adj. | 1. | boastful - exhibiting self-importance; "big talk" proud - feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride; "proud parents"; "proud of his accomplishments"; "a proud moment"; "proud to serve his country"; "a proud name"; "proud princes" |
boastful
adjective bragging, vain, crowing, swaggering, vaunting, conceited, swanky (informal), puffed-up, egotistical, vainglorious, swollen-headed, full of yourself I am not afraid of seeming boastful.
modest, humble, unassuming, self-deprecating, self-effacing, self-belittling
modest, humble, unassuming, self-deprecating, self-effacing, self-belittling
Translations
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