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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of hot air
Our hot air highline dream began a decade earlier, in 2014, when my friend Lukas Irmler and I set out to break the record for the highest slackline above ground.
—
Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
Generally, in between the cooler box’s walls is foam or plastic that slows down the circulation of hot air.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
This week’s heat dome is caused by a stubborn ridge of high pressure that has trapped hot air over the West like a lid on a pot.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Butterss’ bassline works like the ropes that keep a hot air balloon tethered to earth.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot air
Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
Generally, in between the cooler box’s walls is foam or plastic that slows down the circulation of hot air.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
This week’s heat dome is caused by a stubborn ridge of high pressure that has trapped hot air over the West like a lid on a pot.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Butterss’ bassline works like the ropes that keep a hot air balloon tethered to earth.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot air
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hot air
Noun
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For all Magyar’s rhetoric, his politics do not actually represent a comprehensive break from Orbán.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
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Orban’s enduring support stems from tangible benefits — utility discounts, pension supplements — alongside nationalist rhetoric emphasizing Hungary’s traditions, regional pride, and external threats such as Ukraine’s war that resonate deeply with rural and elderly voters.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
Noun
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If the turquoise waters of the Caribbean are calling your name, consider Bonaire as your spring break brag.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
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The infamous length of Infinite Jest is, in this sense, a central feature of its ethic: not bigness as brag but duration as discipline.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Those big tires with big sidewalls soak up a lot of the road chatter before the suspension even starts suspending.—
Joe Salas
April 07,
New Atlas,
7 Apr. 2026
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August 23 – September 22 Clarity lands where chatter once created noise.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Hammy magniloquence risks alienating viewers, not just for an evening but for life, as does obscurity.—
The Economist,
The Economist,
15 Mar. 2018
Noun
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Nastiness can be framed as a function of mourning a loved one, as with Dorinda’s rants on RHONY; or despair over personal crises, as with RHOC star Shannon Beador’s DUI and car crash.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
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That same year, West praised Adolf Hitler in a rant full of slurs on X, leading to his talent agent Daniel McCartney dropping him.—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hot air.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hot%20air. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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