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
Reform—Within Reason Malthus aimed to puncture Godwin’s grandiloquent progressivism.
—
Roy Scranton, JSTOR Daily, 18 Sep. 2025
Roy Scranton, JSTOR Daily, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grandiloquent
Adjective
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The Four Freedoms Roosevelt named were not rhetorical ornaments offered as inspiration so much as a diagnosis.—
Philip Martin,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
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Most Venezuelans who are smart recognize that this is a rhetorical device.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 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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Every California governor since Earl Warren back in World War II had annually paraded into the ornate 1800s-decor Assembly chamber to address a joint session of the Legislature in what was always the most festive occasion of the year in the state Capitol.—
George Skelton,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
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The service is a dream, as are the common spaces—handwoven tapestries by Portuguese artist José Sobral de Almada Negreiros hang throughout, with ornate furnishings and happy wallpaper in a rich yellow.—
Charlie Hobbs,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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After it’s fully inflated, anesthesia is added to the water.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Jan. 2026
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However, Spak thinks Rivian’s risk-reward ratio now appears less favorable, saying the company’s current valuation may be too inflated.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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That means the recall effort led by Alex Otaola, the bombastic Spanish-language YouTube host, needs about 550 signatures per day to stay on pace to meet the deadline in four months.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
15 Jan. 2026
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Gothic visuals and bombastic performances are sure to pull horror buffs into Penny Dreadful's world.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grandiloquent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grandiloquent. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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