swagger
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to walk or strut with a defiant or insolent air.
-
to boast or brag noisily.
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
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(intr) to walk or behave in an arrogant manner
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to brag loudly
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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
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swaggersimple
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swaggerssimple
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have swaggeredperfect
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has swaggeredperfect
-
am swaggeringprogressive
-
are swaggeringprogressive
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is swaggeringprogressive
-
have been swaggeringperfect progressive
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has been swaggeringperfect progressive
Past
-
swaggeredsimple
-
had swaggeredperfect
-
was swaggeringprogressive
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were swaggeringprogressive
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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
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
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Words from Shakespearean Insults
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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.
They play with dynamism and a swagger, and will be France's sternest test so far.
From BBC • Jul. 8, 2026
The company’s sense of swagger means that many customers approach it directly due to word of mouth and reputation, and that Palantir can decide which partnerships will generate the most value, the analysts write.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2026
He would get the players playing with swagger and confidence, and he can be pragmatic when needed.
From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026
Whether it’s the better results, or a shift in mindset, Sasaki has, indeed, seemed to carry himself with a touch more swagger lately.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026
I wanted it to sound more confident, bigger, with more nonchalant swagger.
From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline
Definitions 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.
