1
as in rhetoric
boastful speech or writing
a heavyweight champion who was famous for his entertaining grandiloquence prior to every match
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2
as in bombast
language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere
the predictably wearisome grandiloquence of the speeches at a political convention
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Recent Examples of grandiloquence
Much of that singularity was centered in McCarthy’s prose, which ricocheted—sometimes gracefully, sometimes jarringly—between gruff matter-of-factness and soaring, biblical grandiloquence.
—
Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 13 June 2023
Several of them can fly, and all have at least a touch of grandiloquence to them.
—Michael Nordine, Variety, 11 Aug. 2022
Rylance plays him with chest puffed out into grandiloquence, the painful shuffle of a man with no unbroken bones, and the periodic grace of a pixie.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 14 June 2022
At least some of the grandiloquence proved justified.
—Idrees Kahloon, The New Yorker, 16 May 2022
Many times, vision statements end up being washed up by grandiloquence.
—Nacho De Marco, Forbes, 26 Jan. 2022
There will be plenty more rhetoric, pomposity and grandiloquence in the next few weeks as negotiations between the union and MLB get hot and heavy.
—Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY, 13 May 2020
Behind the grandiloquence of his note was a young man, alone, under extraordinary stress.
—Barton Gellman, Washington Post, 11 May 2020
His most recent high-profile job, foreign secretary, found him ill at ease in a role that required more gravitas than grandiloquence.
—Benjamin Mueller, New York Times, 22 July 2019
Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 13 June 2023
Several of them can fly, and all have at least a touch of grandiloquence to them.
—Michael Nordine, Variety, 11 Aug. 2022
Rylance plays him with chest puffed out into grandiloquence, the painful shuffle of a man with no unbroken bones, and the periodic grace of a pixie.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 14 June 2022
At least some of the grandiloquence proved justified.
—Idrees Kahloon, The New Yorker, 16 May 2022
Many times, vision statements end up being washed up by grandiloquence.
—Nacho De Marco, Forbes, 26 Jan. 2022
There will be plenty more rhetoric, pomposity and grandiloquence in the next few weeks as negotiations between the union and MLB get hot and heavy.
—Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY, 13 May 2020
Behind the grandiloquence of his note was a young man, alone, under extraordinary stress.
—Barton Gellman, Washington Post, 11 May 2020
His most recent high-profile job, foreign secretary, found him ill at ease in a role that required more gravitas than grandiloquence.
—Benjamin Mueller, New York Times, 22 July 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grandiloquence
Noun
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This is fueled by misinformation, a growing distrust in government health authorities and the amplification of anti-vac rhetoric in social media and the popular news outlets.—
Armstrong Williams,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Aug. 2025
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While the real flow of capital will depend on each country’s budget realities, demographics, and political might, the rhetoric alone has been enough to push European defense stocks lower.—
Steven Dudash,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
Noun
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The chorus is essentially one word (peaches) repeated incessantly with operatic bombast.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
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You’ll be treated to swank surroundings and a surprisingly refined and nuanced meal filled with bombast and a hint of down-to-earth charm from its culinary director, Ben Martinek (formerly of Montage Laguna Beach’s Loft and Studio).—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
3 June 2025
Noun
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His musical template of youthful braggadocio and disarming sensitivity should be recognizable to anyone that has absorbed his work.—
Mosi Reeves,
Rolling Stone,
23 July 2025
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Em Out, the siblings set aside their signature razor-sharp coke rap bars and boundless braggadocio to focus on family in a bare-bones appearance that opened with Pusha lovingly remembering the pair’s mother.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
16 July 2025
Noun
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Share wins as punchy screenshots Nobody has time for your three-paragraph humble brag about closing a big deal.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
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There’s a whole new tone and dynamism to LinkedIn: more human, less not-so-humble brag.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grandiloquence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grandiloquence. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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