bravado
noun
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Displays of bravado may be show-offish, daring, reckless, and inconsistent with good sense—take, for example, the spectacular feats of stuntpeople—but when successful they are still likely to be met with shouts of "bravo!" Celebrities, political leaders, corporate giants, and schoolyard bullies, however, may show a different flavor of bravado: one that suggests an overbearing boldness that comes from arrogance or a position of power. The word bravado originally comes from the Old Italian adjective bravo, meaning "wild" or "courageous," which English has also to thank for the more ubiquitous brave.
Examples of bravado in a Sentence
Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
Yes, there are big personalities on the show, notably Massimo Piedimonte, who often generates eye rolls by the other chefs when his bravado goes overboard.
—Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2025
After nearly a decade of wandering clumsily through the NFL wilderness, the Broncos feature stability, alignment, direction and bravado.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 16 May 2025
His bravado and swagger leglocked the doubters into submission.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bravado
Cite this Entry
“Bravado.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bravado. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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bravado
noun
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