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
From the podium, Guerrero allayed the overture’s bombastic writing with a buoyant, supple spirit.
—
Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
Indeed, Newsom has taken a page out of Trump’s own playbook: bombastic threats and social media trolling.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 14 Aug. 2025
The music, intimate and bombastic, grounded and soaring, was goosebump-inducing and transcendent, giving emotional resonance to the awe of becoming friends with a dragon or the raw thrill of riding one.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 19 June 2025
The View From Democrats Democrats on both sides of the Capitol sound eager to work with Republicans to rein in Palantir, which is known for its secrecy and the occasionally bombastic rhetoric of its leadership.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bombastic
Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
Indeed, Newsom has taken a page out of Trump’s own playbook: bombastic threats and social media trolling.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 14 Aug. 2025
The music, intimate and bombastic, grounded and soaring, was goosebump-inducing and transcendent, giving emotional resonance to the awe of becoming friends with a dragon or the raw thrill of riding one.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 19 June 2025
The View From Democrats Democrats on both sides of the Capitol sound eager to work with Republicans to rein in Palantir, which is known for its secrecy and the occasionally bombastic rhetoric of its leadership.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bombastic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bombastic
rhetorical
Adjective
-
Whether these rhetorical jabs will resonate with voters or simply serve to inflame partisan divisions remains an open question.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Just asking questions Kennedy and other MAHA proponents also employ another powerful rhetorical tactic: raising questions about topics that have already reached a scientific consensus.—
Megan Donelson,
The Conversation,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bombastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bombastic. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share