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

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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
  • Evaluate how different rhetorical moves support speakers’ arguments and how they are received by the audience.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The grid numbers driving the pause The rhetorical shift has been accompanied by concrete regulatory action.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of rhetorical
Adjective
  • Being a competent, eloquent orator does not mean that you’re trusted.
    — Jamil Wyne, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • When Kent Jones was a critic at Film Comment, he was known for, among many other things, his eloquent and insightful analyses of performance.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of eloquent
Adjective
  • That afternoon, the president, inside the exposition’s ornate Temple of Music, greeted members of the public, shaking hands and warmly inviting them to explore the fair.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Marrow Deep at times feels turbulent, ornate, measured, chaotic, and cathartic.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of ornate
Adjective
  • Early acting career Although Turner had no formal training, his raw talent soon caught the eye of several television directors.
    — L. Sue Baugh, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • When the Soviet Union collapsed, NATO lost its formal justification.
    — JENNIFER KAVANAGH, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of formal
Adjective
  • Following Contreras’ majestic homer, Webb allowed back-to-back singles and hit a batter to load the bases.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026
  • After pressing the shutter button, the AI kicked in to select the best shots from the recording, with many featuring the subject in majestic poses.
    — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of majestic
Adjective
  • For Finite, Nuclear Children joins a slate comprising original series and adaptations of plays, operas and literary texts.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
  • In a pedagogical culture that tends to shy away from unpleasantness, Goodwin’s approach felt like an honest — and valuable — way of dealing with one of the ugliest aspects of American literary history.
    — Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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