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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
  • Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham was asked about Underwood’s security in the starting job earlier this week and hardly offered up a ringing endorsement.
    — Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of ringing
Adjective
  • The latest Piker rhetorical bomb El-Sayed had to dodge was the streamer’s assertion in an interview with Axios, excerpts of which were posted Thursday, that the United States is more of a fomenter of terrorism than al-Qaeda.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of rhetorical
Adjective
  • Mid-round, golfers head to the Halfway House for burger dogs and fish tacos, and the Links Margarita has apparently achieved something close to cult status among regulars.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Middleton paired her blazer with muted pieces in cocoa — a set of trousers and a round neck jumper by British contemporary designer brand Joseph.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of round
Adjective
  • Both developments create concerns among some observers that the companies are overseeing inflated volumes or, at worst, are experiencing wash trading, in which traders collude to buy and sell an asset to create a false sense of economic activity.
    — Davis Giangiulio,Ananya Chetia, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
  • And yet, these inflated scores might be worth it simply to see the absolute shock and joy on the pair’s faces when those paddles go up.
    — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of inflated
Adjective
  • This shimmering, sonorous work, from one of our greatest living directors, moves through the peculiar landscapes of human interaction with certainty, eccentricity and grace, alighting on a generous if rueful conclusion.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026
  • 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
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 styles range from vibrant turquoise and coral styles to sleek silver or metal versions, or even bolos made of abalone shells or petrified wood, too.
    — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2026
  • For years, Overland Park has been working on a long-range plan to transform Central Overland Park into a more walkable, vibrant and engaging space for residents, workers and visitors.
    — Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 29 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 1 Oct. 2026.

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