1
as in rhetorical
full of fine words and fancy expressions
poets in the 19th century tended to write poetry filled with grandiloquent phrases
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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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
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
Adjective
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Steyer’s emphasis on reducing regulatory barriers and permitting costs to address California’s housing crisis represents a substantive policy contribution that could appeal to voters prioritizing pragmatic solutions over rhetorical combat.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
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In the following chapters of Quand j’étais photographe, Nadar plays on the rhetorical and material slipperiness of invention to craft a curious portrait of photography’s first fifty-odd years.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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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
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That public spat has overshadowed his pontifical tour of four African countries, which ended Thursday with a Mass for thousands of people in Malabo, the former capital of Equatorial Guinea.—
Claudio Lavanga,
NBC news,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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This manifested in both organic and ornate shapes, real and faux hair adornments and billowing embellishments collected from nature.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
4 May 2026
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It is surrounded by appliqué ornamentation reflecting the decorative arts of each culture and an ornate frieze around the periphery.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Visitors mill around the town statue of Richard Warren, Widow’s Bay’s first mayor, who was then known as Lord Protector of the Island, which seems like a really inflated job title.—
Jen Chaney,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
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If your summer vacation budget is straining under inflated gas prices and airfare, these deals may provide relief.—
Jason Stauffer,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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That claim sounds bombastic when much of the art world sees the headline grabbing Banksy as a guilty pleasure at best.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
7 May 2026
-
There will never be another John Sterling, whose bombastic style and signature catchphrases became must-listen radio when a Yankee hit a home run.—
Chris Kirschner,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grandiloquent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grandiloquent. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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