as in rhetorical
marked by the use of impressive-sounding but mostly meaningless words and phrases
a bombastic speech intended to impress the voters in her congressional district
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 bombastic
Woodman is known for being bombastic, but GoPro's track record in making indestructible camera gear is unmatched.
—
Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026
Steinman’s music has always been described as big, bombastic, and operatic.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
But the English-speaking pontiff has risen as an influential American critic living in the Vatican, using his platform on the world stage as a moral contrast to the president's more bombastic rhetoric and aggressive use of executive power.
—Terry Collins, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2026
There was a lot of really bombastic language that happened throughout this war.
—Adam Harris, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bombastic
Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026
Steinman’s music has always been described as big, bombastic, and operatic.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
But the English-speaking pontiff has risen as an influential American critic living in the Vatican, using his platform on the world stage as a moral contrast to the president's more bombastic rhetoric and aggressive use of executive power.
—Terry Collins, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2026
There was a lot of really bombastic language that happened throughout this war.
—Adam Harris, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bombastic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bombastic
Adjective
-
But both men benefit from a shock-and-awe rhetorical strategy.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
-
Hosts sometimes have an argumentative style or adopt rhetorical strategies such as irony, jokes, and humor.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Some even require dedicated facilities, leading to inflated costs.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
-
The new movie, by contrast, is an inflated meditation on fiction and reality.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
That public spat has overshadowed his pontifical tour of four African countries, which ended Thursday with a Mass for thousands of people in Malabo, the former capital of Equatorial Guinea.—
Claudio Lavanga,
NBC news,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bombastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bombastic. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
