1
as in rhetoric
boastful speech or writing
the other world leaders at the international conference had little interest in being subjected to the president's bombast
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in grandiloquence
language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere
you need less bombast and more substance in this speech on human rights
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bombast
In a city where architectural bombast has often been favored over architectural quality, the White House has stood apart for its grace and modesty.
—
Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Trump’s version of events, as is so often the case, isn’t based on facts, but wishcasting, projection, bombast and bluffs.
—S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
One thing The Tonight Show does better than any other late-night show (and certainly can’t be replicated by video podcasts) is bombast.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Too big, too flashy, too red, too everything — a tacky pile of bombast in the vein of the Fontainebleau Hotel.
—Christopher Robbins, Curbed, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bombast
Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Trump’s version of events, as is so often the case, isn’t based on facts, but wishcasting, projection, bombast and bluffs.
—S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
One thing The Tonight Show does better than any other late-night show (and certainly can’t be replicated by video podcasts) is bombast.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Too big, too flashy, too red, too everything — a tacky pile of bombast in the vein of the Fontainebleau Hotel.
—Christopher Robbins, Curbed, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bombast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bombast
Noun
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For all Magyar’s rhetoric, his politics do not actually represent a comprehensive break from Orbán.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
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Orban’s enduring support stems from tangible benefits — utility discounts, pension supplements — alongside nationalist rhetoric emphasizing Hungary’s traditions, regional pride, and external threats such as Ukraine’s war that resonate deeply with rural and elderly voters.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Much of that singularity was centered in McCarthy’s prose, which ricocheted—sometimes gracefully, sometimes jarringly—between gruff matter-of-factness and soaring, biblical grandiloquence.—
Alex Shephard,
The New Republic,
13 June 2023
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Several of them can fly, and all have at least a touch of grandiloquence to them.—
Michael Nordine,
Variety,
11 Aug. 2022
Noun
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But for everything Gates said that might appeal to a frustrated Democrat like me, his Huntington Beach braggadocio continually won out.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
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Rather than bluster and braggadocio, the Department of Defense needs a well-conceived and thoughtfully presented multiyear program to build a military fit for large-scale and sustained war.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 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 internet of propaganda is not the real world, and however much bluster there is in the daily CENTCOM declaration of how effective their strikes are, Tehran is far worse off after more than 13,000 targets have been hit.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
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Defense Minister Israel Katz has dismissed Erdogan’s threats as bluster, while officials warn that Turkey’s regional posture, particularly its engagement in Syria, is being closely monitored.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The chatter did not test Murray’s patience.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
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For maximum comfort and quiet, Beats Studio Pro Over-ear Headphones deliver effective noise cancellation that noticeably reduces engine hum and cabin chatter, making movies, music, and podcasts far more enjoyable.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bombast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bombast. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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