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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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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In Cuba today, Marxist bromides serve as nothing more than rhetorical cover for corruption.—
Quico Toro,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
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Such rhetoric shifts focus away from the perpetrator and the broader failures that allow violent crime to persist.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The bishops further authorized a new edition of the Roman Pontifical for pontifical Masses, expected to be completed by 2027, with Vatican approval pending for some rites, according to the Catholic News Agency.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Nov. 2025
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In its report, the pontifical commission highlights failures in the Italian church.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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One of the museum’s most celebrated exhibits is the priceless Trà Kiệu Pedestal, a huge, ornate altar featuring symbolic images such as Apsara dancers.—
Tamara Hinson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Mar. 2026
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The ornate cornice on the top of the building also collapsed.—
Julian Roberts-Grmela,
New York Daily News,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Investigators laid out a pattern of inaccurate and incomplete campaign finance reports across several election cycles, including improper contributions falsely reported as personal loans, acceptance of improper contributions and inflated cash-on-hand numbers.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
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Some of the exclusive merchandise has already appeared on eBay at inflated prices.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The three-minute-plus earworm is more of a bombastic wakeup call than a nursery rhyme.—
Jae-Ha Kim,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
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Doucette's bombastic proclamation was vindicated in his standout performance, earning tournament MVP honors.—
Jim Reineking,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grandiloquent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grandiloquent. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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