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showboater

showboater

1 7.9
A person who shows off to get attention
  • noun
  • /ˈʃoʊˌboʊtər/
  • Informal
: presumido
  • The infamous showboater captured everyone's attention with her outrageous stunts during the performance.

Examples

  • During the game, his flashy moves revealed him as a true showboater, always trying to impress the crowd.

  • So I don't come down too hard on MKC or Shurmer for picking on the showboater Straight Up G-Little.

    Blog text (17)
  • I I think we all have to the people that enable these showboaters and let them in at the last minute.

  • They're only encouraging the little showboater.

  • This ain't no place for showboaters.

  • Because Stacy Patton is a showboater... - who only averages 0.2 assists per game, that's why.

  • Everyone in the group knew he was a showboater, always seeking the spotlight with his exaggerated gestures.

Synonyms

blowhard
vsshowboater
  • Offensive
18 8.2

A person who talks too much and brags about themselves

seeks attention with flashy actions rather than by long boastful talk
show-off
vsshowboater
  • Offensive
16 4.8

A person who tries to get attention by doing things to impress others

focuses on bold, flashy behaviour aimed at impressing others
exhibitionist
vsshowboater
6 7.5

Someone who behaves to get attention by showing off skills or style

focuses on flashy acts to impress others rather than showing skill
flyboy
vsshowboater
  • Slang
6 8.4

A young man who dresses and acts in a showy, attention-seeking way

is the general flashy attention-seeking behaviour not limited by age or gender
braggart
vsshowboater
  • Offensive
4 7.7

A person who talks a lot about themselves to show off

seeks attention by flashy actions rather than mainly by loud boasting
popinjay
vsshowboater
  • Offensive
2 9.9

A vain, talkative person who likes to show off

focuses on flashy actions to impress rather than vain talk
grandstander
vsshowboater
  • Literature
1 8.6

A person who tries to get attention by doing showy things in front of other people

focuses on flashy acts to impress rather than seeking public applause
bragger
vsshowboater
  • Offensive
1 4.9

A person who talks proudly about their success or things they own

seeks attention through flashy behaviour rather than primarily proud talk
swisher
vsshowboater
  • UK
1 9.4

A person who walks or moves in a smooth, showy way to get attention

focuses on general flashy behaviour to impress rather than stylish movement
fancy Dan
vsshowboater
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A man who dresses and acts in a flashy way to attract attention

focuses on flashy behaviour to impress rather than only appearance
trumper
vsshowboater
  • Archaic
1 9.6

A person who brags loudly to get attention

uses flashy behaviour to impress rather than chiefly boasting aloud
swaggerer
vsshowboater
1 7.9

A person who walks and acts very confidently, often bragging

emphasizes flashy attention to impress rather than mere confident swagger
swasher
vsshowboater
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A person who behaves proudly and brags about themselves

is the modern description for flashy attention-seeking behaviour, not old-fashioned swagger
flosser
vsshowboater
  • Slang
9.9

A person who shows off things like money or clothes to impress others

covers flashy behaviour more broadly beyond simply displaying material wealth

How Attention-Seeking

attention whore
  • Offensive
4 9.9
showboater
  • Informal
1 7.9
performer
253 2.5
outgoing
40 3.0
reserved
29 3.7

Surface Forms

showboater singular
showboaters plural

Morphology

showboater = showboat (semi-transparent) = show + boat + er

Formed from the verb 'showboat' (to show off); the agentive relation is clear, but the meaning departs from the literal 'show'+'boat' components and requires knowledge of the verb sense.

Etymology

Showboater comes from the verb showboat, which meant 'to show off' and grew from those river performers who loved attention. That's why a showboater now means 'a person who behaves in a flashy, attention-seeking way'.