bombastic

adjective

bäm-ˈba-stik How to pronounce bombastic (audio)
Definition of bombasticnext
as in rhetorical
marked by the use of impressive-sounding but mostly meaningless words and phrases a bombastic speech intended to impress the voters in her congressional district

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bombastic Compared with other mega-chain coffee purveyors, Dutch Bros’ menu skews more bombastic and creative. — Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 24 Aug. 2026 Sure enough, during our interview, her answers betray a bombastic staccato honed on the stump. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 11 Aug. 2026 Fans have in some instances railed against commentator Alexi Lalas, a veteran analyst, player and soccer executive who has been accused of being too bombastic, and even partisan during his time on air. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 22 July 2026 This bombastic rhetoric echoes an inherent feeling of frustration in Russia over the failure to segregate Ukraine from the West. — Ihor N. Stelmach, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bombastic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bombastic
  1. rhetorical
  2. inflated
  3. pontifical
Adjective
  • The latest Piker rhetorical bomb El-Sayed had to dodge was the streamer’s assertion in an interview with Axios, excerpts of which were posted Thursday, that the United States is more of a fomenter of terrorism than al-Qaeda.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
  • By retaining too much of the play’s rhetorical architecture, the film turns a provocative dramatic premise into something closer to an illustrated thesis.
    — Beandrea July, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of rhetorical
Adjective
  • The unions cited concerns including job security, affordable health care, and wages that meet New York City’s inflated cost of living.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • All these geopolitical variables put a partial freeze on energy dealmaking—potential sellers ask for more money on inflated valuations, while the buyers think longer term and conservatively.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of inflated
Adjective
  • In another decree published Monday, Leo canceled Francis’ plans to move some of the Vatican’s secret archives and library holdings out of the city state and onto the grounds of a pontifical university across town.
    — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Leo opened his visit to Pompeii by meeting with sick and disabled people who are cared for by a charity center affiliated with the sanctuary, which Leo’s namesake, Pope Leo XIII, declared a pontifical basilica in 1901.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 May 2026
Definition of pontifical

Browse Nearby Words

bombast
bombastic
bombed
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Cite this Entry

“Bombastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bombastic. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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