HIGH-FLOWN Synonyms: 107 Similar and Opposite Words

high-flown

adjective

ˈhī-ˈflōn

Definition of high-flown

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

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

Maybe that’s what tips her into some recklessness of her own, with an explanation of Hal’s forceful personality and brilliant rhetorical style as being intoxicating.

— Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
That club includes former President Obama, whose rhetorical style has been compared to the young senator.

— Jared Gans, The Hill, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of rhetorical

Adjective

The preschoolers who had a tough time delaying gratification— who ate the first marshmallow—were less academically and socially skilled, eloquent, attentive, and not as good at managing frustration in adolescence.

— Joan M. Cook, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
Fittingly, this is a very American intersection of wealth and power, the exact kind of problem about which James Baldwin was always so eloquent and incisive.

— James Folta, Literary Hub, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of eloquent

Adjective

Next up is a house tour, from the cavernous, all-white living room to a glimpse of the ornate indoor pool, with V lamenting that the place is so huge he sometimes gets lost.

— Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 15 Oct. 2026
Many of its original details, from formal entry galleries and large terraces to ornate moldings and herringbone floors, remain.

— Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of ornate

Adjective

That year, after Israeli officials castigated Qatar for allegedly financing Hamas, the Qataris began demanding formal documentation of an arrangement the two governments had agreed was meant to provide relief to citizens of the beleaguered enclave.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
With some formal firefighter training and background checks, volunteers commit to following fire officials’ orders, helping residents evacuate and putting out spot fires, while leaving the ferocious front-line flames to the professionals.

— Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of formal

Adjective

While the colorful glow of these two nebulae pull the eye toward the center of this photograph, they are surrounded by a majestic night sky landscape.

— Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 9 Oct. 2026
In Colorado, the staggering die-off of the majestic pines is difficult to stomach.

— Jennifer Oldham, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of majestic

Adjective

That point is proved time and again, as editors scheme against each other, belittle each other’s literary taste and throw Batter under the bus whenever an opportunity arises.

— Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
From the settings of spooky flicks and gothic literary legends to places that take their pumpkin patches and seasonal decor quite seriously, these eight spots prove that Halloween is so much more than a single night.

— Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 13 Oct. 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

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“High-flown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-flown. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of high-flown

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes