swagger
Americanverb (used without object)
-
swaggers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
swaggered,
past participle, past
-
swaggering
present participle
-
to walk or strut with a defiant or insolent air.
-
to boast or brag noisily.
verb (used with object)
-
swaggers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
swaggered,
past participle, past
-
swaggering
present participle
noun
-
swaggers
plural
verb
-
(intr) to walk or behave in an arrogant manner
-
to brag loudly
-
rare (tr) to force, influence, etc, by blustering
noun
adjective
noun
Synonym Usage
See strut 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
swaggersimple
-
swaggerssimple
-
have swaggeredperfect
-
has swaggeredperfect
-
am swaggeringprogressive
-
are swaggeringprogressive
-
is swaggeringprogressive
-
have been swaggeringperfect progressive
-
has been swaggeringperfect progressive
Past
-
swaggeredsimple
-
had swaggeredperfect
-
was swaggeringprogressive
-
were swaggeringprogressive
-
had been swaggeringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of swagger
Explanation
Picture the confident, maybe even arrogant way a pirate, a cowboy, or even a rapper might stroll around. That style of walking is called a swagger. Swagger can also be used as a verb. After you ace a test you might swagger down the hall feeling pretty full of yourself. In verb form it can also refer to more aggressive behavior like bullying or intimidating others. Hopefully you wouldn’t swagger down the hall doing that though!
Vocabulary lists containing swagger
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Words from Shakespearean Insults
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams put on a show as the Rams rediscover their swagger in Aaron Donald’s much-anticipated return, beating the Giants 28-6.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
At several concerts, the singer balanced his tambourine on his head, adding a touch of mad clown to his rock swagger.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
He had the swagger, the looks and the tailor-made dress sense.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
Senate in Michigan, whose self-confident swagger and immigrant-family story have invited the comparison.
From Slate ● Sep. 9, 2026
The neat partings in their hair, the clicks of their heels, the confident swagger they had.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
Meanwhile, Jason Momoa swaggers into the fray from the cover of an ’80s hard-rock album with Kiss’ makeup, Manowar’s muscles and Meatloaf’s motorcycle.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026
When Gustav swaggers back into the daughters’ lives to play the cheery grandfather and beloved papa, both are skeptical.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2025
The critics said: “Catchy as hell and swaggers out of the speakers with an infectious joy.”
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2024
“Minx,” a cheeky comedy set in 1970s Southern California, swaggers onto HBO Max on Thursday.
From New York Times ● Mar. 16, 2022
He swaggers even when he is standing still.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Root stationed eight fielders on the boundary at one point - but it did not deter Razaullah as he brashly swaggered at the crease with the arrogance of youth.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
After Spencer pinned Matthew Maynard - an England international - leg before wicket, Richards swaggered to the crease to a standing ovation.
From BBC ● Dec. 1, 2025
In Canterbury, the mayor swaggered around the public square pressuring townsfolk to open their businesses, drawing an angry crowd of onlookers.
From Salon ● Dec. 24, 2024
He swaggered through high school, told teammates he was great, and in the minor leagues in the early 1960s, he infuriated other players by appearing to try too hard.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2024
Hubbard swaggered across the room, two older men trailing him.
From "The Contender" by Robert Lipsyte
But Marx, 61, a former Marine and expert in martial arts, is nothing if not swaggering.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
With the swaggering Wyatt-Hodge in this form - she now has the most runs ever at a single women's T20 World Cup - anything feels possible.
From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026
It’s funny because it’s swaggering, full-of-itself New York, and the Mets are one of baseball’s most profligate franchises, a free-spending, $360-million payroll outfit owned by zillionaire financier Steve Cohen.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 22, 2026
Lawrence, who worked with him on his adaptation of Hiaasen’s “Bad Monkey,” describes him as surprisingly modest, entirely unlike his swaggering creations.
From Salon ● Apr. 5, 2026
No bold, swaggering expressions strutted across her face as the glow of the castle rippled in her eyes.
From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
