grandiloquent

adjective

Definition of grandiloquentnext
1
as in rhetorical
full of fine words and fancy expressions poets in the 19th century tended to write poetry filled with grandiloquent phrases

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pontifical
marked by the use of impressive-sounding but mostly meaningless words and phrases at Independence Day celebrations grandiloquent speeches by local politicians are as traditional as fireworks

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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 grandiloquent Witty, bitter, flamboyant, and emotionally grounded, the dialogue swings, delightfully, between intimate exchanges and grandiloquent soliloquies, capturing the vulnerability of idealists in the face of evil. — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026 There was Coppola’s over-the-top defense of his friend with a grandiloquent gesture (Tanen declined to sell). — Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026 Reform—Within Reason Malthus aimed to puncture Godwin’s grandiloquent progressivism. — Roy Scranton, JSTOR Daily, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grandiloquent
  1. rhetorical
  2. pontifical
  3. ornate
  4. inflated
  5. bombastic
Adjective
  • Eisenkot lacks Netanyahu’s rhetorical flair, polished English, and decades on the world stage.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The White House and Vance’s press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his rhetorical about-face.
    — Eli Hager, ProPublica, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of rhetorical
Adjective
  • In another decree published Monday, Leo canceled Francis’ plans to move some of the Vatican’s secret archives and library holdings out of the city state and onto the grounds of a pontifical university across town.
    — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Leo opened his visit to Pompeii by meeting with sick and disabled people who are cared for by a charity center affiliated with the sanctuary, which Leo’s namesake, Pope Leo XIII, declared a pontifical basilica in 1901.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 May 2026
Definition of pontifical
Adjective
  • On arrival, we were escorted across a wooden bridge to the famous ornate jewel-laden golden door.
    — Kate Berlant, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Next up is a house tour, from the cavernous, all-white living room to a glimpse of the ornate indoor pool, with V lamenting that the place is so huge he sometimes gets lost.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of ornate
Adjective
  • The boxes allegedly cost substantially less to produce, allowing the conspirators to use the inflated prices to finance bribes and divert government funds.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026
  • As a result, conventional estimates produced inflated efficiency values that failed to reflect actual device behavior under operating conditions.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of inflated
Adjective
  • The trailer for The Magician’s Nephew premiered in front of a full Imax theater in the AMC at Lincoln Square, revealing a first look at Gerwig’s bombastic, epic spectacle.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 13 Oct. 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
Definition of bombastic

Browse Nearby Words

grandiloquence
grandiloquent
grandiose
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Cite this Entry

“Grandiloquent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grandiloquent. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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