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
  • His prose is noted for its rhetorical, exuberant style and use of satire.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Eisenkot lacks Netanyahu’s rhetorical flair, polished English, and decades on the world stage.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of rhetorical
Adjective
  • Baitz’s verbal gymnastics aren’t a good fit for Harris, who is at his most eloquent when his characters are at a loss for words.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • One fascination of this brave book—brave in its disclosures but more so in its demands, its spiritual rigor, and its ardent intellectualism—lies in watching the eloquent, intelligent sufferer steadily entrapping herself.
    — James Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of eloquent
Adjective
  • Restaurant Asador Etxebarri, which is located in Spain's Basque Country, won top billing as the World’s Best Restaurant 2026 at the event held at the ornate Teatro Municipal de Lima.
    — Nathan Tavares, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The game's astonishingly ornate textures can jar with its cartoony proportions.
    — James Perkins Mastromarino, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of ornate
Adjective
  • The system produced a mathematical proof that was accepted by Lean, a proof-assistant software used to check the logical correctness of formal mathematical arguments.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The Paris Police Prefecture denied numerous formal requests for permits allowing protests in various areas of the city, citing October riots that led to thousands of arrests and violent clashes between protesters and law enforcement.
    — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of formal
Adjective
  • Sculptor Ursula von Rydingsvard, known for her craggy, majestic wood forms carved from cedar, died at her home in New York on October 27 of Alzheimer’s disease.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 29 Oct. 2026
  • As if the majestic dress was not enough, Fanning and her stylist Samantha McMillen managed to find the most precise shoes to complete the look, which is no easy feat.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of majestic
Adjective
  • The film adapts a short story of the same name by Zhang Chu, a winner of the Lu Xun Literary Prize, one of China’s top literary awards.
    — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The definition reflects a long history of associating Jews with greed and moneylending, a stereotype reinforced by literary figures such as Shakespeare’s Shylock and by centuries of anti-Jewish prejudice.
    — Juan Melamed, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 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 10 Nov. 2026.

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