high-flown

adjective

ˈhī-ˈflōn How to pronounce high-flown (audio)
Definition of high-flownnext
1
as in rhetorical
full of fine words and fancy expressions gave a high-flown reply instead of a simple "yes" or "no" answer

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in eloquent
very dignified in form, tone, or style high-flown speeches about the nobleness of their cause

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for high-flown
  1. rhetorical
  2. eloquent
  3. ornate
  4. formal
  5. majestic
  6. literary
Adjective
  • Aristotle was the first to systematically study the power of metaphor as a rhetorical device.
    — Richard Yanowitch, Mercury News, 29 July 2026
  • For more than two centuries, highlighting Washington’s antislavery bona fides has functioned as a politically convenient rhetorical tool.
    — John Garrison Marks, The Atlantic, 25 July 2026
Definition of rhetorical
Adjective
  • What’s far more eloquent is the episode with the witch Circe (a terrific Samantha Morton), whose habit of tricking and transforming men into animals is rendered in evocatively physical, body-horror-esque imagery.
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 15 July 2026
  • After all, the eloquent document’s principal author, Thomas Jefferson, owned 600 slaves.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of eloquent
Adjective
  • As for finishing touches, Saldaña wore a pair of Aquazzura white pointed toe pumps with ornate cutouts.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 31 July 2026
  • Overly grand staircases and ornate rail details are both considered outdated by designers.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 30 July 2026
Definition of ornate
Adjective
  • The company noticed the order, reached out, and built a formal marketing relationship from there.
    — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Lenders, too, can adjust their rate offers upward as a formal rate hike grows in likelihood.
    — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Definition of formal
Adjective
  • Delphiniums are tall, majestic flowering plants that provide a strong vertical accent to perennial borders.
    — Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2026
  • The olive trees outside their home, majestic and thriving — not just a livelihood for many local farmers but a symbol of community.
    — Mirin Fader, New York Times, 16 July 2026
Definition of majestic
Adjective
  • On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 13 indie bookstores across the city and beyond are joining forces for an inaugural celebration of local literary culture.
    — Julius Miller, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
  • Yet perhaps the real challenge to literary biography today is the account that does play to the gallery but uses fictional anecdotes.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
Definition of literary
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.

Browse Nearby Words

highfliers
high-flown
high-flying
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Cite this Entry

“High-flown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-flown. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on high-flown

Nglish: Translation of high-flown for Spanish Speakers

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