1
as in rhetoric
boastful speech or writing
his taking credit for the rescue was mostly hot air, since the boat was actually saved by the Coast Guard
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in wind
language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere
her campaign promise to "fight for the people" showed a taste for stale hot air
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hot air
That ink or chocolate stain may never come out once your favorite shirt is blasted by hot air.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2026
There will also be fun Cajun activities like a hot air balloon glow, a crawfish boil, live music by the Spazmatics, a King Cake eating contest, food trucks, shopping and fireworks.
—Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Less noticeable but still important is a large air outlet above the rear number plate that will surely extra hot air from the engine compartment.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 22 Jan. 2026
Sealing the cracks and openings in a home is like closing a pipe of hot air that funnels all that warmth outside.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot air
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2026
There will also be fun Cajun activities like a hot air balloon glow, a crawfish boil, live music by the Spazmatics, a King Cake eating contest, food trucks, shopping and fireworks.
—Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Less noticeable but still important is a large air outlet above the rear number plate that will surely extra hot air from the engine compartment.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 22 Jan. 2026
Sealing the cracks and openings in a home is like closing a pipe of hot air that funnels all that warmth outside.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot air
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hot air
Noun
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Barack Obama’s administration detained unaccompanied children and families despite humanitarian rhetoric, contradicting Clinton’s assertion that children were not placed in detention camps.—
Fidel Martinez,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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The report notes despite the political rhetoric, clean energy stocks have outperformed traditional energy by over 45% since early 2025, driven largely by macroeconomic and interest rate trends rather than by partisan politics.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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His early career was marked by the sort of gasconade many fans of the NFL had come to adore and many MLB executives and players had come to loathe.—
Robert Klemko,
The MMQB,
13 July 2017
Noun
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The infamous length of Infinite Jest is, in this sense, a central feature of its ethic: not bigness as brag but duration as discipline.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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Important to remember Epstein was known brag about his associations with wealthy and powerful people.—
Julie K. Brown,
Miami Herald,
18 Dec. 2025
Noun
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This year’s unexpected winner, however worthy, is likely to re-stoke debate over the category within BAFTA and kids and family circles, following chatter last year after Paddington In Peru was excluded from the long-list.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
23 Feb. 2026
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Grinning and giggling, their chatter in between camera setups is all over the place.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Hammy magniloquence risks alienating viewers, not just for an evening but for life, as does obscurity.—
The Economist,
The Economist,
15 Mar. 2018
Noun
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The Italian carried on at Spurs for another 13 months before finally being put out of his misery after his much more memorable rant at Southampton in March 2023.—
Dan Kilpatrick,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
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One video shows the pair lying in traffic and angering strangers with their bizarre rants.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hot air.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hot%20air. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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