vaunted

1 of 2

adjective

vaunt·​ed ˈvȯn-təd 

ˈvän-

: highly or widely praised or boasted about

… his own much vaunted ferocity …

—Calvin Tomkins

vaunted

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of vaunt entry 1

Did you know?

Vaunted Has Latin Roots

The verb vaunt has been used since the 15th century with the meaning “to make a vain display of one’s own worth or attainments”—in other words, “to brag or boast.” Over time, vaunt developed the meaning “to boast of (a particular thing),” as in “the promotional flier vaunts the natural beauty of the area,” and that use gave rise to the adjectival form vaunted. The history of vaunt and vaunted leads back to the Latin word vānus, with the meanings “lacking content, empty, illusory, marked by foolish or empty pride.” The word vain itself is also a descendant of vānus.

Examples of vaunted in a Sentence

Adjective

The team's vaunted defense faltered in the second half of the game.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But recent events have shown that much-vaunted security umbrella to be a leaky one. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Had Houston’s vaunted defense come up with a stop or preserved more time, the Texans might not be discussing another 0-3 start. — Greg Rajan, Houston Chronicle, 27 Sep. 2026

The route evokes a vaunted lifestyle where farm stands spill over with cherries and apricots, and half the vehicles in summer carry bikes, paddleboards, or kayaks. — Mike Norton, Midwest Living, 26 Sep. 2026

Most homeowners – Democrats and Republicans alike – say the state’s vaunted 2022-23 property insurance overhaul has primarily benefited the insurance industry, not the consumers who were promised relief. — Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from past participle of vaunt entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1567, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for vaunted

• daunted
• flaunted
• haunted
• taunted
• wanted
• undaunted
• unwanted

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Kids Definition

vaunted

adjective

vaunt·​ed ˈvȯnt-əd 

ˈvänt-

: much praised or boasted about

the team's vaunted offense