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

Maybe it was the underbelly of all of the bravado and power-seeking—some desire to counter all the validation with the humiliation of knowing that, deep down, he’s just a revolting little worm.

From Slate • Apr. 15, 2026

But he criticised Hegseth's "brashness, the bravado, the bulldozing of questions" in briefings.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

On the battlefield, the situation is far more complex — and dangerous — than the administration’s bravado suggests.

From Salon • Mar. 2, 2026

“I completely lost my equilibrium,” he says with none of the bravado that was previously a trademark.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026

For all his bulk and bravado, Kohl Whitlock was just a scared little kid.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

Related Words

• bluster