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orotund

adjective

ˈȯr-ə-ˌtənd How to pronounce orotund (audio)
Definition of orotundnext
1
as in ringing
marked by conspicuously full and rich sounds or tones the tenor's orotund voice was just what this soaring aria needs

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rhetorical
marked by the use of impressive-sounding but mostly meaningless words and phrases a master of the orotund prose that is favored by academic journals of literary criticism

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 orotund Novoselov had a boisterous, orotund way of talking that even the interpreter seemed to have trouble making sense of. — Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 The speaker’s orotund oratory, his mannered put-downs, his mock pretentiousness, his pompous, practiced, often hilarious jawing will be no more. — Karla Adam, Washington Post, 31 Oct. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for orotund
  1. ringing
  2. rhetorical
  3. round
  4. inflated
  5. sonorous
  6. pontifical
  7. reverberant
  8. vibrant
Adjective
  • Martha-Mary Chapel, Sudbury Reverend Bryce (Toby Huss) presides over the town church, where mysterious ringing bells seem to indicate something dark is afoot.
    — Nicholas DeRenzo, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The quote sounded more like a statement of facts than a ringing endorsement.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of ringing
Adjective
  • By retaining too much of the play’s rhetorical architecture, the film turns a provocative dramatic premise into something closer to an illustrated thesis.
    — Beandrea July, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026
  • His recollections often take the form of dialogues in which interlocutors meekly acknowledge his overwhelming rhetorical advantage.
    — Ian Parker, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of rhetorical
Adjective
  • The North Siders clubbed an all-time team record of nine home runs in a single game, routing their rival Milwaukee Brewers 17-3 at Wrigley Field − and ending August with 62 round-trippers for the month, another team record.
    — Robert Abitbol, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Zheng was the one in tears at the French Open, after losing her first round match to eventual finalist Maja Chwalińska, 6-4, 6-0.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of round
Adjective
  • There are the Vamps, inflated shoes born of the puffy Y2K lineage of skate classics like Osirises or Etnies, taken to theatrical levels of bulbous.
    — Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The visually inflated size of certain landmasses such as Greenland on the Mercator map may even have geopolitical implications.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of inflated
Adjective
  • Assuming the role of a human clapper, Holzinger struck its lip again and again, sending a sonorous peal across the Biennale grounds.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 24 June 2026
  • In addition to his film, TV and theater work, Yun has also narrated a ton of Korean documentaries over the years thanks to his sonorous voice.
    — Regina Kim, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Definition of sonorous
Adjective
  • In another decree published Monday, Leo canceled Francis’ plans to move some of the Vatican’s secret archives and library holdings out of the city state and onto the grounds of a pontifical university across town.
    — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Leo opened his visit to Pompeii by meeting with sick and disabled people who are cared for by a charity center affiliated with the sanctuary, which Leo’s namesake, Pope Leo XIII, declared a pontifical basilica in 1901.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 May 2026
Definition of pontifical
Adjective
  • Other halls may have a richer, more reverberant acoustic, although Disney’s is still uncommonly fine.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
  • But let your mind wander, and Carlile and Doran’s digital wrangling blurs into a colorful, reverberant hum.
    — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 22 May 2026
Definition of reverberant
Adjective
  • The city felt vibrant and full of possibility, especially as Russia seemed firmly on its way to a democratic future.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Instead of the usual vibrant red, this year’s carpet is peacock blue in honor of the 100th anniversary of NBC, which is broadcasting the ceremony.
    — Maane Khatchatourian, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of vibrant

Browse Nearby Words

ornery
orotund
orphaned
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Cite this Entry

“Orotund.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/orotund. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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