bravado

American  

[bruh-vah-doh] / brəˈvɑ doʊ /

noun

plural

bravadoes, bravados

1. a pretentious, swaggering display of courage.

   Synonyms:

   braggadocio, bombast, bluster, brag

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bravado British  

/ brəˈvɑːdəʊ /

noun

1. vaunted display of courage or self-confidence; swagger

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Related Words

See courage.

Other Word Forms

• overbravado
  noun

Etymology

Origin of bravado

First recorded in 1575–85; from Spanish bravada (now bravata, from Italian ), equivalent to brav(o) “brave” + -ada noun suffix; see origin at brave, -ade ¹

Explanation

If you act with bravado, you are making a bold showy statement. Picture a cowboy bursting through saloon doors in an old western, and you can picture bravado. The noun bravado is derived from the French and Italian words meaning "bragging and boasting," and it is related to the word bravo. Today, the word means an almost-over-the-top amount of courage, but it can also be used (often with the word false) to mean a false show of bravery: "It was her first day in the classroom and she was almost shaking with fear, but with false bravado — she took a deep breath and turned to face her students — 20 kindergartners."

Example Sentences

Bravado seems to have its own chapter in Cignetti’s playbook.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 12, 2024

On sale at the shop, created with Universal Music Group's Bravado merchandise and brand management company, are Queen hoodies, socks, mugs and puzzles among other items.

From Reuters • Sep. 27, 2021

Bravado, the salon where Obradovac, 45, works on Capitol Hill, will allow two clients and two employees at a time, instead of the six hairdressers who might have been working simultaneously before.

From Washington Post • May 29, 2020

Bravado and violent taunts aside, McGregor has a plan.

From The Guardian • Oct. 5, 2018

Bravado, possibly; but bravado which invited the respect of all those who admire enterprise!

From Your United States Impressions of a first visit by Bennett, Arnold

Related Words

• bluster