bravado

His bravado is also palpable, especially for someone never before elected to office.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

Giving evidence, Natland said he wanted to look "cool" to his peers but it was just "bravado" and inside he was "terrified".

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

We understand Paul’s fatal bravado in tenor Michael Kuhn’s jaunty recounting of a race with a rabbit that ends with him crashing his car—it’s a performance designed to deflect Norman’s offer of help.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

In 2019, after a series of interviews, Davis published his own book, which, full of bravado, gave a similar account of Shakur’s killing as that of the federal task force.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026

Burnham’s clear relief suggests that his earlier bravado might have been just for show.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

He was now fairly mad with rage, drew his sword, thrust and cut into the corner whence the laugh rang, and challenged the Kobold with bravadoes, to come on.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine — Volume 56, No. 345, July, 1844 by Various

The fall of Charles X. had increased the audacity of the old Napoleonic veteran, who uttered all imaginable bravadoes.

From The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard by Anatole France

For three hours he questioned and insulted them, while a score of attendant press agents took down his magnificent bravadoes to be embellished for the press of the day.

From The War Upon Religion Being an Account of the Rise and Progress of Anti-christianism in Europe by Francis A. (Francis Aloysius) Cunningham

Always the master of every topic on which he attempts to enlighten, he is neither foiled by the sophistries nor embarrassed by the bravadoes of his opponents.

From The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2, No. 2, August, 1862 Devoted to Literature and National Policy by Various

And without being blown into splinters by artillery, how many of these Redoubtables and Invincibles have succumbed to the waves, and like braggarts gone down before hurricanes, with their bravadoes broad on their bows.

From Mardi: and A Voyage Thither, Vol. I by Herman Melville

He must use his poetic powers as wonders attesting the purpose for which he speaks—not as mere bravados of ostentatious power.

From Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Volume 1, No. 3, August, 1850. by Various

Next to being raided by the sheriff of an adjacent county, having a river prophet come on board is the greatest excitement and the smartest amusement of the bravados down the river.

From The River Prophet by Ralph P. (Ralph Pallen) Coleman

It would be interesting to stare defiantly at his enemy at close range, to speak with him again man to man, to lure him into further bravados.

From Broken to the Plow by Charles Caldwell Dobie

Mimi began to laugh and to utter bravados.

From Bohemians of the Latin Quarter by Henry Murger

She makes sorties and attacks, she endeavours to hide her weakness by her bravados, and when she replies most disdainfully to a summons to capitulate, is perhaps on the eve of surrender.

From At Agincourt by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty