1
as in rhetoric
boastful speech or writing
his taking credit for the rescue was mostly hot air, since the boat was actually saved by the Coast Guard
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in wind
language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere
her campaign promise to "fight for the people" showed a taste for stale hot air
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hot air
That ink or chocolate stain may never come out once your favorite shirt is blasted by hot air.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2026
There will also be fun Cajun activities like a hot air balloon glow, a crawfish boil, live music by the Spazmatics, a King Cake eating contest, food trucks, shopping and fireworks.
—Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Less noticeable but still important is a large air outlet above the rear number plate that will surely extra hot air from the engine compartment.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 22 Jan. 2026
Sealing the cracks and openings in a home is like closing a pipe of hot air that funnels all that warmth outside.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot air
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2026
There will also be fun Cajun activities like a hot air balloon glow, a crawfish boil, live music by the Spazmatics, a King Cake eating contest, food trucks, shopping and fireworks.
—Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Less noticeable but still important is a large air outlet above the rear number plate that will surely extra hot air from the engine compartment.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 22 Jan. 2026
Sealing the cracks and openings in a home is like closing a pipe of hot air that funnels all that warmth outside.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot air
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hot air
Noun
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Executives at the show, which closes on Sunday, pointed to shifting alliances and tougher rhetoric from major powers as a catalyst for the trend.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
7 Feb. 2026
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Lowering prescription drug costs is a worthy objective, and TrumpRx may be a bold approach in rhetoric, but the proposal as currently discussed leaves crucial implementation questions unanswered.—
Sreedhar Potarazu,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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His early career was marked by the sort of gasconade many fans of the NFL had come to adore and many MLB executives and players had come to loathe.—
Robert Klemko,
The MMQB,
13 July 2017
Noun
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The infamous length of Infinite Jest is, in this sense, a central feature of its ethic: not bigness as brag but duration as discipline.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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Important to remember Epstein was known brag about his associations with wealthy and powerful people.—
Julie K. Brown,
Miami Herald,
18 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Out in the hallway, the raucous chatter of teenagers echoed in the halls, and cars honked on the busy street outside to pick them up.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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The container shipping company has been the subject of recent chatter regarding a possible sale.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Hammy magniloquence risks alienating viewers, not just for an evening but for life, as does obscurity.—
The Economist,
The Economist,
15 Mar. 2018
Noun
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The complaint alleges Wagner posted a video last month that directly threatened ICE officers with an obscenity-laden rant.—
Steve Karnowski,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
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The latest remarks to People come nearly a year after speculation swirled that Ye and Censori were on the brink of divorce following yet another one of the rapper’s antisemitic rants on social media.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hot air.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hot%20air. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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