“boast”

To walk or behave with an air of arrogant confidence, implying self-congratulation through attitude rather than words.

“He swaggered into the meeting room as if he'd already won the contract.”

Best for: Works well in casual, punchy writing or dialogue to convey cocky energy.

To boast about or praise something excessively, especially one's own achievements.

“She vaunted her surgical precision to anyone who would listen.”

Best for: Slightly formal; fits well in literary fiction or satirical writing.

To boast or gloat triumphantly, often after a victory over someone else.

“He crowed about his promotion for weeks until his colleagues grew weary of it.”

Best for: Vivid and colloquial; great for dialogue or punchy narrative prose.

To boast extravagantly and noisily, derived from the French region of Gascony, stereotyped for braggarts.

“His gasconade at the banquet left the ambassadors exchanging skeptical glances.”

Best for: Ideal for historical fiction, formal satire, or anyone wanting to dazzle with vocabulary.

To brag or rant with vain, empty boasting, named after a boastful character in Renaissance epic poetry.

“The general's rodomontade before battle impressed no one who had seen him flee before.”

Best for: Deeply literary; best suited for historical settings, essays, or conscious verbal showmanship.

To congratulate or pride oneself with visible self-satisfaction, suggesting vanity more than loud proclamation.

“She preened over the glowing review, reading it aloud twice at dinner.”

Best for: Subtle and elegant; excellent when the boasting is self-absorbed rather than aggressive.