as in rhetoric
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
Relevance
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
Again and again, the band falls (petulantly, peevishly, with English accents and English swear words) into the gap between its bombastic self-image and the facts on the ground, the dwindling ticket sales and tiny sandwiches and spontaneously combusting drummers.
—
James Parker, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
Borderlands 4 is set to be the series' most bombastic and full-featured game yet, and early previews for the game have been very positive so far.
—Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Frankenstein is loud, bombastic, sublime and silly.
—Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Weapons' lifetime gross is still far afield of its closest horror competitor this year, Ryan Coogler's bombastic vampire thriller Sinners.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bombastic
James Parker, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
Borderlands 4 is set to be the series' most bombastic and full-featured game yet, and early previews for the game have been very positive so far.
—Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Frankenstein is loud, bombastic, sublime and silly.
—Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Weapons' lifetime gross is still far afield of its closest horror competitor this year, Ryan Coogler's bombastic vampire thriller Sinners.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bombastic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bombastic
rhetorical
Adjective
-
Trump’s broadside against the UN is the latest salvo in a broader rhetorical battle about the value of multilateral organizations like it compared with the bilateral partnerships and deals favored by the current US administration.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Using his encyclopedic knowledge of House rules and his deft rhetorical skills, Adams could spin any floor debate into one about the issue of slavery.—
Time,
Time,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bombastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bombastic. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share