Synonyms of bombastic

bombastic

adjective

bäm-ˈba-stik 

as in rhetorical

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

• rhetorical
• inflated
• pontifical
• grandiloquent
• gaseous
• oratorical
• ornate
• flatulent
• gassy
• fustian
• grandiose
• windy
• pretentious
• orotund
• turgid
• pompous
• florid
• bloated
• flowery
• elevated
• stilted
• lofty
• high-sounding
• wordy
• verbose
• high-flown
• tumid
• highfalutin
• overdone

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• eloquent
• direct
• simple
• plain
• matter-of-fact
• unrhetorical
• straightforward
• unadorned
• unaffected
• bald
• stark
• unpretentious
• well-spoken
• plainspoken

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bombastic

In it, Mickey Mouse and the bombastic Donald Duck are standing on a dock, fishing. — Hilton Als, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

The entrance always has the opportunity to be bombastic and fun and full of wildcard antics. — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2026

On its face, the fair, slated for June 25 to July 10, was a bombastic mess. — Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 12 Oct. 2026

Curtis’ discomfort, and ours, builds to a tense crescendo during Digger’s bombastic speech in front of the European Parliament. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 7 Oct. 2026