hot air

noun

Definition of hot airnext
1
as in rhetoric
boastful speech or writing his taking credit for the rescue was mostly hot air, since the boat was actually saved by the Coast Guard

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2
as in wind
language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere her campaign promise to "fight for the people" showed a taste for stale hot air

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of hot air Again, if intermediate temperatures are needed, it could potentially be mixed with some hot air coming directly from the storage medium, albeit at the cost of generation. — ArsTechnica, 29 Oct. 2026 And none of the many alternative remedies for treating lice – such as smothering them with mayonnaise or oil, dehydrating them with saline or hot air, or zapping them with an electronic comb – have proven to be effective. — Emily J. C. Wong, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026 The low sides of a standard sheet pan let hot air circulate freely over every piece of vegetable. — Natalia Vela, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2026 Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Jaime Moore would later say there was no ammonia leak but that the vapor that had initially caused concern had been cold air mixing with hot air. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hot air
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hot air
  1. rhetoric
  2. gasconade
  3. brag
  4. chatter
  5. magniloquence
  6. rant
Noun
  • There may be no bias as prevalent in politics and rhetoric as recency bias, the inclination to give disproportionate emphasis to recent events and statements rather than historical overview and contemplation.
    — Richard E. Vatz, Baltimore Sun, 8 Nov. 2026
  • And the activists’ friends become concerned, urging them to soften the rhetoric.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of rhetoric
Noun
  • His early career was marked by the sort of gasconade many fans of the NFL had come to adore and many MLB executives and players had come to loathe.
    — Robert Klemko, The MMQB, 13 July 2017
Definition of gasconade
Noun
  • The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has lent some backing in their own study to Waymo’s safety brag.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 11 Oct. 2026
  • One of the Roundhouse’s biggest brags is an extensive liquor collection, highlighting spirits produced in New York State.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of brag
Noun
  • The $120 whole chicken sparked plenty of online chatter, though the $65 half-chicken is substantial enough for a party of four.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
  • There has been chatter about teams tanking to avoid being elevated to the Open Division.
    — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of chatter
Noun
  • Hammy magniloquence risks alienating viewers, not just for an evening but for life, as does obscurity.
    — The Economist, The Economist, 15 Mar. 2018
Definition of magniloquence
Noun
  • Decades of riffing onstage had conditioned her not to dwell on whether a performance had bombed, but what about a rant as a tour guide?
    — Danielle Paquette, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The backlash to his brutal ICE raids and nativist rants can be seen in returns all over the country.
    — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of rant

Browse Nearby Words

hot
hot air
hotbed
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Cite this Entry

“Hot air.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hot%20air. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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