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
Relevance
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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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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But Trump so far, it’s mostly been rhetorical.
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Beginning in her early teens, Joyce loved watching Kirk’s debates on Instagram, seeing in them not carefully honed rhetorical tactics but authentic civility.
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.
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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.
Adjective
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Hand engraving and ornate craftsmanship have also become more desirable as consumers gravitate toward pieces that feel handmade and deeply personal.
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The cathedral, its peaceful cloister, and its ornate crypt are also worth a visit.
Adjective
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Teams were comfortable paying inflated prices to acquire good young players on appealing contracts.
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Once those inflated bills went unpaid, interest, penalties and fees accumulated, often ending in tax foreclosure.
Adjective
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There’s a strange irony—though, perhaps, little surprise—that this is how the bombastic Tory politico is now spending his time.
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The show has evolved over its long tenure, but its bombastic 50th season managed to both capture the spirit of the show's origins and honor its long legacy.
Cite this Entry
“Grandiloquent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grandiloquent. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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