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
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
There will also be fun Cajun activities like a hot air balloon glow, a crawfish boil, live music by the Spazmatics, a King Cake eating contest, food trucks, shopping and fireworks.
—Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Less noticeable but still important is a large air outlet above the rear number plate that will surely extra hot air from the engine compartment.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 22 Jan. 2026
Sealing the cracks and openings in a home is like closing a pipe of hot air that funnels all that warmth outside.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot air
Christina Perrier, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026
There will also be fun Cajun activities like a hot air balloon glow, a crawfish boil, live music by the Spazmatics, a King Cake eating contest, food trucks, shopping and fireworks.
—Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Less noticeable but still important is a large air outlet above the rear number plate that will surely extra hot air from the engine compartment.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 22 Jan. 2026
Sealing the cracks and openings in a home is like closing a pipe of hot air that funnels all that warmth outside.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot air
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hot air
Noun
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Most major 2026 Democratic gubernatorial candidates are sharpening their anti-Trump rhetoric.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
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Kim in recent years has sharpened his rhetoric toward Seoul and underscored his rejection of inter-Korean diplomacy.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Feb. 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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Rumors and chatter fly around Indianapolis like a wildfire, and the nuances of the negotiation between Aubrey’s representation and the Cowboys were the latest victim.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Mar. 2026
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These days, the chatter is more about the precarity of life in the United States.—
Lavender Au,
The Atlantic,
2 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
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The Italian carried on at Spurs for another 13 months before finally being put out of his misery after his much more memorable rant at Southampton in March 2023.—
Dan Kilpatrick,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
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One video shows the pair lying in traffic and angering strangers with their bizarre rants.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hot air.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hot%20air. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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