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 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
  • The latest Piker rhetorical bomb El-Sayed had to dodge was the streamer’s assertion in an interview with Axios, excerpts of which were posted Thursday, that the United States is more of a fomenter of terrorism than al-Qaeda.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
  • By retaining too much of the play’s rhetorical architecture, the film turns a provocative dramatic premise into something closer to an illustrated thesis.
    — Beandrea July, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 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
  • As with Thomas Wyatt more than four hundred years before, Gunn, in his poems on the deaths of friends, found stark rhymes more forceful than subtle ones, and unornamented lines more powerful than qualified or ornate ones.
    — Colm Tóibín, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Crafted with shimmering elements throughout the sheer design, the dress was wholly ornate.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of ornate
Adjective
  • The unions cited concerns including job security, affordable health care, and wages that meet New York City’s inflated cost of living.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • All these geopolitical variables put a partial freeze on energy dealmaking—potential sellers ask for more money on inflated valuations, while the buyers think longer term and conservatively.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of inflated
Adjective
  • Many filmgoers who’ve seen the movie early say Cruise’s bombastic performance is the best part of it.
    — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026
  • His music was defiant and bombastic, and critics and fans alike regarded him as a kind of pop messiah.
    — Josephine Reisman, Vulture, 24 Sep. 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 8 Oct. 2026.

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