Bravado

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /bɹɑːˈvɑːdoʊ/

Definitions

1. An ostentatious display of courage or confidence that is often exaggerated or insincere, typically adopted to impress others or conceal fear
2. A striking and bold manner meant to seem fearless but often masks insecurity
3. A boastful or swaggering attitude designed to attract attention or intimidate

Etymology: The word arrived in English from French "bravade," meaning bragging or boasting, which itself came from Italian "bravata." That Italian noun grew from the verb "bravare," to brag or boast, and that verb is built on "bravo," the same adjective that gave English its shout of praise. So the swagger we now call bravado started out as a sound of showy self-assessment before it became a quality of character. The shift from boasting to a performed fearlessness is the heart of the story. A bravado act is a display put on for an audience, the verbal or physical equivalent of announcing one's own courage. The word's meaning kept the sense of showing off while losing the sense of mere talk, so that it now describes a bold manner that can conceal real nervousness underneath. Its close relative "bravura," a term for dazzling technical display in music and art, shares the same Italian root, so the two words still point back to the same idea of conspicuous, deliberate boldness.

Synonyms: boldness, audacity, swagger

Antonyms: timidity, fear