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
  • His prose is noted for its rhetorical, exuberant style and use of satire.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Eisenkot lacks Netanyahu’s rhetorical flair, polished English, and decades on the world stage.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of rhetorical
Adjective
  • The wide, paved serpentine pathway is just over a mile round-trip.
    — Judith Garrison, AJC.com, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Myrtle Beach came out on top, with an average round-trip flight and one-night hotel stay totaling just $501.
    — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of round
Adjective
  • As part of the scheme, prosecutors allege, Heflin conspired with other companies and individuals to predetermine who would win certain business, at times submitting intentionally inflated bids to schools.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 27 Oct. 2026
  • As retailers roll out seasonal promotions across clothing, appliances and electronics, inflated reference prices and limited-time pressure can turn a modest discount into something that feels like a steal.
    — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of inflated
Adjective
  • His army of orcs are tracking down the rest of the titular rings, which are safe(ish) with the elves in the luxe strongholds of Lindon and Rivendell, as well as my beloved dwarves in the sonorous mines of Khazad-dûm.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Dub’s classic elements are present in the bass and drum groove, the offbeat accents and the play of echo, but McDoom balances them carefully against her sonorous voice.
    — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 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
  • Named after the showroom at 34 Via della Spiga in Milan, the fragrance blends vibrant Mediterranean top notes of Calabrian bergamot, Sicilian lemon and jasmine with a textured heart of frankincense, Virginia tobacco and Russian leather.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Her paintings of vibrant and mythical scenes inspired by Central Park’s wildlife were popular with locals and tourists alike.
    — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 10 Nov. 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 13 Nov. 2026.

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