pontificate

Definition of pontificatenext
as in to rant
disapproving to speak or express your opinion about something in a way that shows that you think you are always right We had to listen to her pontificate about the best way to raise children.

Related Words

Relevance

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 pontificate Over the course of the last three weeks, some of the biggest names in the business of reporting on (and pontificating about) sports media have transformed themselves into a scruffy simulacrum of the town elders from Footloose. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Lorraine, Google’s chief marketing officer, pontificated at conferences and in op-eds about building diverse, inclusive teams. — Claire Stapleton, New Yorker, 18 July 2026 And the players tend to be reluctant to pontificate about the inner machinations of bargaining, especially on a stage purported to celebrate the game. — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 15 July 2026 The American pope has prioritized church unity and healing tensions with traditionalists that worsened during the Pope Francis pontificate. — ABC News, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pontificate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pontificate
Verb
  • Elon Musk is ranting on X in response to the upcoming documentary, Musk.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Videos of Cubans exploding in anger and ranting against the government have become frequent despite the severe penalties Cuban law imposes to those who criticize the authorities.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The couple raves about the care their girls have received at both hospitals.
    — Juli McDonald, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Though some personal anecdotes rave about drinking coconut oil every day, the research isn’t there yet.
    — Veronica Cristino, Vogue, 5 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Pontificate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pontificate. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster