Boastful is a word that is often used to describe someone who is excessively proud of their achievements or abilities. It is a term that is often used in a negative context, as it implies that the person is arrogant or self-centered. In this article, we will explore the definition and meaning of boastful, its origin, associations, synonyms, antonyms, and provide example sentences to help understand its usage.
Definitions
The Oxford English Dictionary defines boastful as “excessively proud and self-satisfied about one’s achievements, possessions, or abilities.” Merriam-Webster defines it as “given to or marked by boasting,” while Dictionary.com defines it as “showing excessive pride and self-satisfaction in one’s achievements, possessions, or abilities.”
Origin
The word boastful comes from the Old English word bost, which means “boast” or “pride.” It was first used in the 14th century to describe someone who was excessively proud or self-centered.
Meaning in different dictionaries
Boastful is generally defined in the same way across different dictionaries. It is described as someone who is excessively proud of their achievements, possessions, or abilities.
Associations
Boastful is often associated with negative traits such as arrogance, self-centeredness, and a lack of humility. It is also associated with bragging and exaggerating one’s accomplishments.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of boastful include arrogant, conceited, egotistical, proud, and self-important.
Antonyms
Antonyms of boastful include humble, modest, unassuming, and self-effacing.
The same root words
Words that share the same root as boastful include boast, boastfulness, and boastingly.
Example Sentences
- His boastful attitude made him unpopular with his colleagues.
- She was always boasting about her accomplishments, which annoyed her friends.
- His boastful claims about his business success were later proved to be false.
- Despite his boastful nature, he was actually quite insecure.
- She tried to hide her accomplishments, as she didn’t want to come across as boastful.
In conclusion, boastful is a term that is used to describe someone who is excessively proud of their achievements, possessions, or abilities. It is often associated with negative traits such as arrogance and self-centeredness. While it is important to be proud of one’s accomplishments, it is equally important to remain humble and grounded.