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
  • Tehran's Answer Is A Courtroom Iran's response so far has been legal and rhetorical, which is itself information.
    — Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Evaluate how different rhetorical moves support speakers’ arguments and how they are received by the audience.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of rhetorical
Adjective
  • Not as verbally eloquent as Roosevelt, Eisenhower communicated with a broad smile and a confident demeanor.
    — John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Dudamel and the orchestra accompanied the eloquent Lila Downs and much of the evening was then given over to the popular, Grammy-gleaning Los Tigres del Norte.
    — Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of eloquent
Adjective
  • Many of the 76 rooms and suites include private terraces overlooking Gran Via with the upper floor rooms facing the ornate gold dome of the Metropolis, one of Madrid’s most famous buildings.
    — Eddi Fiegel, Robb Report, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Maximalist Garden Design Similar to interior design, the Rococo aesthetic, with its ornate and romantic details, is taking over garden design.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of ornate
Adjective
  • His two sons attended New York public schools, but Spade says their formal observance of the attacks seldom extended beyond a moment of silence.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Sparks alone has converted 38 of his 94 stores, and the network stands at 155 across 27 states — a base large enough to justify a formal national rollout but small enough that new owners can still test economics store by store.
    — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of formal
Adjective
  • Two engaged couples posed for wedding photos in between joggers, dog walkers and sightseers who clamored around Osprey Street to enjoy the day’s majestic sunset.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Crafted from the finest, lightest tweed, the dress—chosen by stylist Ramona Tabita—features a sumptuous knotted structure that opens into a generous back neckline and culminates in a majestic train that skims the red carpet.
    — Giacomo Aricò, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of majestic
Adjective
  • Most of the books were published between the nineteen-seventies and the twenty-tens, and the genres spanned history, biography, fiction, poetry, literary criticism, law, and the social sciences.
    — Francesca Mancino, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026
  • During its 228 years of existence, the London restaurant Rules – established by Thomas Rule in 1798 – has welcomed everyone from literary giant Charles Dickens to pop queen Madonna.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 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 15 Sep. 2026.

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