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
-
But both men benefit from a shock-and-awe rhetorical strategy.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026 -
Hosts sometimes have an argumentative style or adopt rhetorical strategies such as irony, jokes, and humor.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Writers such as Aldo Leopold and Rachel Carson published eloquent ecological and scientific rationales for wilderness preservation, wildlife management, and pollution control, laying the intellectual groundwork for the late 1960s and early ’70s boom in environmental legislation.—
John Reid,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
-
Rex Reed, the longtime movie critic and celebrity interviewer known for his contrarian attitude and eloquent, vicious jabs of his pen, died Tuesday.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Light Materials Even if the scale is on point, heavy, ornate, and dark materials can still make a space feel bulky.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
12 May 2026
-
From the dress’ ornate gold design to the model’s makeup and hairstyling, the entire look was reminiscent of costumes worn by the actress.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Referees rarely do this work, receive no formal training, and know the exercise is as much guesswork as judgment.—
Adam Davis,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
-
Authorities announced in April that a homicide investigation dating back to 1973 was brought to a formal close, more than a half-century after a woman was found dead in a Northern Virginia state forest.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
But the memory that will stay with me the longest is waking up, drawing back the curtains, and seeing two majestic giraffes amble right past the window.—
Irenie Forshaw,
TheWeek,
11 May 2026
-
From the majestic bald eagle to fearless bison and clever sea lions, each animal reflects a brave American spirit worth honoring, per NBC.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
The first season of Prime Video’s Off Campus follows a fake dating bargain between Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli) and Hannah Wells (Ella Bright), and, as with most literary bargains of this nature, the romance becomes real.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
-
Diogenes owns one of the most valuable literary catalogs in the world and has been turning books into series and feature films for decades.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
13 May 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 18 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
