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
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Recent Examples of bombastic
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
From the podium, Guerrero allayed the overture’s bombastic writing with a buoyant, supple spirit.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 16 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
Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 14 Aug. 2025
From the podium, Guerrero allayed the overture’s bombastic writing with a buoyant, supple spirit.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 16 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
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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
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Consider, for instance, the use of rhetorical figures such as metaphor or simile.—
Nino Letteriello,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bombastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bombastic. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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