blather

1 of 2

verb

blath·​er ˈbla-t͟hər How to pronounce blather (audio)
blathered; blathering ˈbla-t͟h(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce blather (audio)

intransitive verb

: to talk foolishly at length
often used with on
blatherer noun

blather

2 of 2

noun

1
: voluble nonsensical or inconsequential talk or writing
2

Examples of blather in a Sentence

Noun listening to a lot of blather from politicians about who's to blame for the bad economy wanted to retire quietly and without all the blather of an office send-off
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Kenan is funny, blathering about Scooby-Doo instead of (the correct order) shrimp scampi. Andy Hoglund, EW.com, 28 Jan. 2024 Back on the homefront, Zora lapses into blathering self-absorption and even Billie, the nurse, comments on her need to devote more quality time to her daughter. Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Sep. 2023 As in previous years, performers, presenters and winners alike had to battle the nonstop din of the blaring motormouths who blathered throughout. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2023 The request was ignored, and the crowd blathered on. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2023 Consider the mid-credits scene of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, two endless minutes of cameos blathering continuity followed by 12 brief seconds of wonderful freewheeling karaoke. Darren Franich, EW.com, 16 Feb. 2023 Many investment companies, eager to persuade trustees to invest with them, will blather about how a particular investment plan can achieve high returns in both investments and social causes. Dallas News, 14 Aug. 2022 Isn’t this the same group of folks who love to blather on about the wonders of the free market system? Dave Lieber, Dallas News, 21 May 2021 Jerome blathered with joy as Tiny walked slowly into her house. Rion Amilcar Scott, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2019
Noun
Like many myths, Freud’s statement contains a sliver of truth and a slather of blather. Steven Kotler, Time, 11 Aug. 2023 Because his patter doesn’t entertain you and interferes with your enlightenment, as well as other members of the class, let those who are willing to tolerate his blather continue his Bible study and business course, while the rest of you move forward with another, less egotistical instructor. Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 5 Apr. 2021 Assaying the general election results in 85 races across the country, the study found that election-denying Republicans received 2.3% less support in statewide contests than Republicans who stood fast and refused to indulge Trump’s insidious blather. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2023 Mailer’s representation of events veers wildly from disconnected poetic blather to deeply confusing interior reflections. Scott Bradfield, The New Republic, 28 Apr. 2023 Few can resist the Beltway’s beckoning, the blather of political pundits or the blandishment of campaign operatives urging them to run. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2023 This last point, incidentally, is one of the key ways in which the mainstream media are failing democracy: If a person can give good blather on foreign policy, TV will anoint that person as an expert, even if he’s gotten everything wrong for a decade or two. Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 15 Feb. 2022 All that Zadie Smith–style blather dismissing white patriarchal tradition, as Mike and Maxandra revamp the Rattigan Theater production of Isabel Ascendant, pointlessly insults Oscar Wilde and Terence Rattigan. Armond White, National Review, 15 Feb. 2023 How much better things would have been if time—eight or nine months, say—were set aside to knock off all the blather, kick back, chill. Joseph Epstein, WSJ, 27 Nov. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'blather.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Old Norse blathra; akin to Middle High German blōdern to chatter

First Known Use

Verb

1524, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1719, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of blather was in 1524

Dictionary Entries Near blather

Cite this Entry

“Blather.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blather. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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