as in to show off
to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior
the gymnast was showboating for the cameras when she lost her balance and fell
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of showboat
Justin Chang, chicagotribune.com, 12 Sep. 2019
Three quarters of sleepwalking, showboating and unwatchable basketball, followed by one quarter of the most intense and least-artistic basketball of the season.
—Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, 16 Feb. 2020
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 May 2024
Her character, Corrine, is bold and sparkly, the kind of showboat who leaps atop a bar to belt Wham!
—Amy Nicholson, Variety, 7 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for showboat
Verb
There are no showboating gestures here, only a bone-deep commitment to showing us the lives of individuals often relegated to the cinematic sidelines, to the extent that the movies even notice them all.
—Justin Chang, chicagotribune.com, 12 Sep. 2019
Three quarters of sleepwalking, showboating and unwatchable basketball, followed by one quarter of the most intense and least-artistic basketball of the season.
—Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, 16 Feb. 2020
Noun
Keoghan’s performance is a bit of a showboat stunt (he’s supposed to be a terrible father but doesn’t seem like a father at all).
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 May 2024
Her character, Corrine, is bold and sparkly, the kind of showboat who leaps atop a bar to belt Wham!
—Amy Nicholson, Variety, 7 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for showboat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for showboat
Verb
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For example, Lenovo previously showed off the idea of a rollable laptop — one where the screen rolls upwards to increase the size of the display.—
Arjun Kharpal,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2025
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Hasbro Introduces Nano-mals, Has Peppa Pig news Hasbro, at Toy Fair, is showing off a new line of electronic, interactive pets called Nano-mals which can be brought to life when their owners play with them.—
Joan Verdon,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The circular cowboy print is by Charles LaSalle from the early 1900s.—
Danielle Corona,
Vogue,
25 Feb. 2025
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Pretend to be a cowboy for a day and saddle up for horseback riding and then attend an award-winning Saturday night rodeo. 20.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The short reel shows users how to cut up and tape together cardboard pieces to create a little homemade tool that helps toddlers learn how to fold shirts.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA TODAY,
10 Mar. 2025
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This tincture spray — made by soaking cut up avocado pits in 91 percent rubbing alcohol overnight — can help with just about any type of pain, one TikTok user claims in a video that has racked up millions of views.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
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This annual meteor shower tends to go berserk every 33 years, but sadly, the next bonanza isn't due until 2032-33, according to Sky At Night.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
29 Dec. 2024
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There’s no evidence to suggest that the bear went berserk after overdosing, as the trailer, which went viral in December, shows.—
Michael O'Sullivan,
Anchorage Daily News,
9 Feb. 2023
Verb
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Elsewhere, two boys, Frank and Alain, get up to assorted mischief, sneaking onto a baseball diamond at night or horsing around on railroad tracks, although there are hints that Frank’s family may leave Cuba soon.—
Ben Kenigsberg,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2025
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In the video, Payne is shown horsing around with a large outdoor crowd and his bandmates, encouraging the fans to quiet their screaming and then raise the volume all the way back up.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA TODAY,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Key speeches are faithfully delivered to an audience of two, not thousands; a scene of soldiers destructively revelling on a bridge is given a different spirit by ironic, out-of-time horseplay.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
8 Feb. 2025
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Another interesting finding from the clinical trial that was more recently reveled is the reduction of visceral fat.—
Yola Robert,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Those who crave the thrill of a victory may embody the competitor. Bigger, bolder personalities may shine as jokers, always fooling around, or as storytellers, bringing imagination to life.—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN,
23 Feb. 2025
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While Mark and Helly were fooling around, Helly wasn’t fulfilling her promise to go get the directions Irving left tucked behind Dylan’s motivational poster.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Gusts of 50 to 70 mph roared in both states Tuesday and Wednesday morning.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN,
5 Mar. 2025
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Valor roared to a quirky, unexpected lead and fended off a serious comeback attempt Monday night at Magness Arena, defeating PSD, 7-4, and claiming the Class 5A state hockey championship.—
Corey Masisak,
The Denver Post,
3 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Showboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/showboat. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
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