Swagger is a word with several meanings. It can describe a proud, stiff way of walking, a very self-assured or arrogantHaving an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance; full of superiority. manner, a verb meaning to walk in that showy way, an old Australian term for a travellingMoving from place to place rather than staying in one location. labourer, or a British informal adjective meaning stylishFashionable, attractive, and in good taste..
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-02. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈswæɡər/
Easy pronunciation: SWAG-ger (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Verb sense: to walk with a lofty, proud gait, often to impress other people.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-02. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Swagger Meaning
to walk in a showy, self-important way
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to walk with a lofty, proud gait, often to impress other people
Example: He swaggered into the room as if he owned the place.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- strut — A close, natural substitute for walking in a proud, showy way.
- prance — Can fit this sense, though it often suggests light, lively movement too.
- sashay — Can work when the movement is showy or confident, but it often implies a more graceful style.
- cock — Used in the phrase 'cock one's walk' or similar sense of walking proudly, but it is less common.
- tittup — A possible match for a showy, jaunty walk, though it is uncommon.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-02. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Swagger
Meaning 2
to behave in a boastful, overconfident way
Part of speech: verb
Definition: act in an arrogant, overly self-assured, or conceited manner
Example: He swaggered around the office after the big promotion.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- bluster — A strong match when the behavior is boastful and overconfident.
- swash — An old-fashioned verb that can fit this sense, but it is rarely used today.
Meaning 3
to bully or threaten someone into feeling scared
Part of speech: verb
Definition: discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner; intimidate
Example: The gang tried to swagger the shopkeepers into paying them.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- browbeat — A good synonym for intimidating someone with pressure or threats.
- bully — Works well for using force or intimidation to control someone.
Meaning 4
a stiff, proud way of walking
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a proud stiff pompous gait
Example: He walked with a swagger that made him easy to spot.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- strut — A close noun synonym for a proud, showy walk.
- prance — Can describe a proud or showy walk, though it may suggest a lighter movement.
Meaning 5
very stylish and fashionable
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: (British informal) very chic
Example: That jacket is quite swagger.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- groovy — A loose match in the sense of being stylish, but it is dated and not an exact substitute.
Meaning 6
an old Australian word for a travelling labourer
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an itinerant Australian laborer who carries his personal belongings in a bundle as he travels around in search of work
Example: The novel follows a swagger crossing the outback in search of work.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- swaggie — A direct variant term for this Australian labourer sense.
- swagman — A direct synonym for this historical Australian sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-11-02. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Swagger Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- strut
- prance
- sashay
boastful or overconfident behavior
- bluster
- swash
intimidating or bullying someone
- browbeat
- bully
a proud stiff walk
- strut
- prance
a very stylish or fashionable thing
- groovy
an Australian travelling labourer
- swaggie
- swagman
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-11-02. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse swagger the verb with swagger the noun.
- Do not mix the 'showy walk' sense with the 'intimidate' sense.
- Do not use the Australian noun sense for modern everyday English meaning.
- The adjective sense is a separate, British informal meaning and should not be treated as the main definition.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-02. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does swagger mean in everyday English?
Most often, swagger means to walk in a proud, showy way or to behave in a very self-confident way.
What are the best synonyms for swagger?
For the walking sense, strong synonyms are strut and prance. For the boastful behavior sense, bluster is a good match.
Is swagger always a bad word?
Not always. It can be neutral or playful when it describes confident style, but it often suggests arrogance or arrogance done to impress others.
Does swagger mean the same thing as bullying?
Not exactly. Swagger can mean intimidating someone, but bullying is more direct and usually stronger.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-11-02. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
