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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
  • The result is a feedback loop where leadership sets aggressive targets, teams present a rosier picture than reality supports and leadership then makes the next round of decisions on inflated data.
    — Nacho De Marco, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Bad tax advice promoted on social media We've been warned in the past about a flurry of bad tax advice by social media influencers that drove thousands of taxpayers to file bogus tax returns that claimed inflated refunds.
    — Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 21 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
  • At Oul, every detail—from the makgeolli kettles repurposed for water to the all-Korean drink menu of beer, soju, and cocktails—celebrates Korea’s vibrant drinking culture.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Dodgers fans walk past vibrant plants behind photos of former Dodgerss outside center field at Dodger Stadium on Friday.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 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 26 Sep. 2026.

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