What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
overween
Example
His overweening pride led to his downfall. [overweening: adjective]
Example
She overweened her abilities and failed the exam. [overween: verb]
swagger
Example
He swaggered into the room, exuding confidence. [swaggered: verb]
Example
Her swagger was impressive, but some found it off-putting. [swagger: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Swagger is more commonly used than overween in everyday language. Swagger is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while overween is less common and more formal, often used in academic or literary writing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between overween and swagger?
While overween is typically associated with a formal and literary tone, swagger is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.