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
Horseback riding, hot air balloon rides, and off-highway vehicle trails await.
—
Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026
The food and drink The star of the Beaverbrook dining show is the al fresco offering, where red and pink striped hot air balloons top tables and afternoon tea is served from the Japanese Grill.
—Sarah Leigh Bannerman, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Feb. 2026
Painshill Park was also the location where a hot air balloon almost injured Penelope in season 3.
—Kayla Keegan, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026
The pair marry in a small intimate ceremony at the Featherington house and later have a spicy moment in a hot air balloon.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot air
Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026
The food and drink The star of the Beaverbrook dining show is the al fresco offering, where red and pink striped hot air balloons top tables and afternoon tea is served from the Japanese Grill.
—Sarah Leigh Bannerman, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Feb. 2026
Painshill Park was also the location where a hot air balloon almost injured Penelope in season 3.
—Kayla Keegan, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026
The pair marry in a small intimate ceremony at the Featherington house and later have a spicy moment in a hot air balloon.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot air
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hot air
Noun
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The rhetoric intensified Friday as GOP lawmakers responded to the attacks in Michigan and Virginia by urging a halt to all immigration into the United States.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Mar. 2026
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Republican lawmakers intensify anti-Muslim rhetoric, with one saying that ‘Muslims don’t belong in American society,’ drawing Democratic condemnation and GOP silence.—
Joey Cappelletti,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 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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The chatter led General Mills to buy La Tiara’s assets in June for $10 million.—
Jenna Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
16 Mar. 2026
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Herson said he’s not focused on the chatter.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
16 Mar. 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
-
All of the dialogue is improvised, even the rant of a school teacher toward the beginning.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Mar. 2026
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During cross-examination of Kaley in February, a Meta lawyer played footage of her mother screaming at her that the teen had posted to social media, and displayed Kaley’s lower-case Instagram story rants about her home life.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hot air.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hot%20air. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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