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
Relevance
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
Adjective
-
Building and construction unions no longer can use their old rhetorical cudgel in this debate — calling prefab homes flimsy and unsafe.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026 -
Although each new rhetorical blow against the alliance brings a fresh shock, analysts say that Europe got the message some time ago.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The music is often spare but as eloquent, richly nuanced and filled with unexpected twists and turns as Mitchell’s peerless singing and lyrics.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Several board members commended the speakers and noted that the students were eloquent in their speeches.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The columns that will support the ballroom’s south colonnade have Corinthian capitals, the most ornate type of decorative top for a column.—
Kevin D. Murphy,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The handshake with Xi in the ornate East Hall at the Great Hall of the People, a space normally used for meeting foreign heads of state, underscored the reversal in political beliefs for Cheng.—
Janis Mackey Frayer,
NBC news,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Together, experts paint a picture of a sector where formal investment risks intersecting with criminal governance, armed violence and illicit supply chains.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Once the formal and complete application is submitted, city officials will then go through the standard review process and decide whether to move forward with a formal hearing.—
Sooji Nam,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The sprawling gardens surrounding the hotel, designed by Xavier de Chirac, complement the building’s majestic architecture—Irish yews, white hydrangeas, azaleas and rhododendrons, and Japanese maples, to name a few mainstays.—
CNT Editors,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Elephants are among the planet’s most majestic creatures, gentle giants who walk steadfastly through the savannas, forests and deserts of Africa and Asia.—
Catherine Garcia,
TheWeek,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Sullivan Street recently acquired another literary IP in a competitive situation, Kirsty Greenwood’s upcoming novel Romantic Hero, which will be adapted as a movie by Peter Chiarelli.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Amin Ahmad puts his own immigrant twist on an American literary classic.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Apr. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“High-flown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-flown. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
