as in to show off
to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior
the gymnast was showboating for the cameras when she lost her balance and fell
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of showboat
Justin Chang, chicagotribune.com, 12 Sep. 2019
Three quarters of sleepwalking, showboating and unwatchable basketball, followed by one quarter of the most intense and least-artistic basketball of the season.
—Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, 16 Feb. 2020
Colby Itkowitz, Washington Post, 26 June 2024
Keoghan’s performance is a bit of a showboat stunt (he’s supposed to be a terrible father but doesn’t seem like a father at all).
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for showboat
Verb
There are no showboating gestures here, only a bone-deep commitment to showing us the lives of individuals often relegated to the cinematic sidelines, to the extent that the movies even notice them all.
—Justin Chang, chicagotribune.com, 12 Sep. 2019
Three quarters of sleepwalking, showboating and unwatchable basketball, followed by one quarter of the most intense and least-artistic basketball of the season.
—Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, 16 Feb. 2020
Noun
Latimer attacked Bowman as a showboat who cared more about building a national profile on the far left than his district.
—Colby Itkowitz, Washington Post, 26 June 2024
Keoghan’s performance is a bit of a showboat stunt (he’s supposed to be a terrible father but doesn’t seem like a father at all).
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for showboat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for showboat
Verb
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The pants have a supportive high-waist design, plus the tapered legs will show off sneakers, sandals, and more summer shoes.—
Nicol Natale,
People.com,
26 May 2025
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Google also recently showed off Google Beam—a way to convert people in video calls to appear more 3D and lifelike for a more personal touch.—
Luke Larsen,
Wired News,
25 May 2025
Noun
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Opposites attract in this story of a spoiled pop princess and a cowboy.—
Lorraine Berry,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2025
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The series will highlight the tense showdowns between lawmen and outlaws, the rise of cowboys and ranchers, the strength of pioneer women and the drive of abolitionists and fortune seekers who helped shape the American frontier.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
25 May 2025
Verb
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Congress is currently debating a federal budget plan that could cut up to $1 billion from the National Park Service.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
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Original price: $499.99 (Amazon) The Greenworks 21-inch lawn mower runs on batteries, and can cut up to half an acre on a full charge.—
Christopher Murray,
FOXNews.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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There’s an arming-up montage in which every regular person stranded on a cursed island filled with undead is suddenly a tactical weapons expert, and that leads into a berserker sequence featuring actual game footage cut into the movie.—
Jordan Crucchiola,
Vulture,
4 Apr. 2025
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This annual meteor shower tends to go berserk every 33 years, but sadly, the next bonanza isn't due until 2032-33, according to Sky At Night.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
29 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Four people are facing charges in Louisiana for horsing around in a small-town Walmart last week. Video that was posted on TikTok and went viral on social media showed three men and a teenage boy riding horses through the business in Baker, Louisiana.—
Elizabeth Pritchett,
FOXNews.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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Quit horsing around — the Clydesdales are back!—
Breanne L. Heldman,
People.com,
10 Feb. 2025
Verb
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First up, while people are revelling following the verdict, the emotional intensity of reaction can be traced to a sense of loss.—
Callum Booth,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
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Key speeches are faithfully delivered to an audience of two, not thousands; a scene of soldiers destructively revelling on a bridge is given a different spirit by ironic, out-of-time horseplay.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
8 Feb. 2025
Verb
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As Molly and Guy start to fool around, things get hot and heavy, but Ernie has a job to do.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
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As Molly and Guy start to fool around, things get hot and heavy, but Ernie has a job to do.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Rabb grabbed the ball and raced up the left sideline, roaring past four defenders who had been caught flat-footed while focusing on James.—
Bruce Feldman,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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As revolutions roared and factories rose, human worth became increasingly tied to productivity.—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Showboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/showboat. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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