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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hot air
The heat pump takes hot air from inside your home and moves it outside.
—
Alora Bopray, USA Today, 2 June 2026
The weather is being driven by a heat dome—a block of high pressure that traps hot air—hovering over Western Europe.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 29 May 2026
One recent Polymarket ad on Meta’s social media platforms shows an influencer hanging off a hot air balloon before letting go and plummeting.
—Kaitlyn Huamani, Fortune, 28 May 2026
The team then hovered over the Great Migration in a hot air balloon experience and spent time with the local community of hunters, Hadzabe, before moving over to the forests of the Gombe Stream and the shores of Lake Tanganyika to meet chimpanzees.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot air
Alora Bopray, USA Today, 2 June 2026
The weather is being driven by a heat dome—a block of high pressure that traps hot air—hovering over Western Europe.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 29 May 2026
One recent Polymarket ad on Meta’s social media platforms shows an influencer hanging off a hot air balloon before letting go and plummeting.
—Kaitlyn Huamani, Fortune, 28 May 2026
The team then hovered over the Great Migration in a hot air balloon experience and spent time with the local community of hunters, Hadzabe, before moving over to the forests of the Gombe Stream and the shores of Lake Tanganyika to meet chimpanzees.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot air
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hot air
Noun
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The memo’s overheated rhetoric and lengthy recitation of political grievances also raise some doubts about his claims.—
Benjamin Mazer,
The Atlantic,
8 Dec. 2025
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The controversy also highlights growing concerns regarding the influence of betting interests on fan reactions and the integrity of sporting events, as well as the broader issue of violent rhetoric in digital spaces.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Humble brag; That turned out to be a stroke of genius on my part.—
Marc Silver,
NPR,
19 Apr. 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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Political chatter was less direct for much of the evening, with most discussion limited to how honored the fighters were to be competing at the White House, with an emphasis on celebrating veterans and first responders.—
William Earl,
Variety,
15 June 2026
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Not that that chatter didn’t exist.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
15 June 2026
Noun
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Continue reading … POLITICS SIN CITY SHOWDOWN — Dem rep who went on expletive-laden anti-Trump rant wins primary.—
,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
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His online rants were becoming increasingly extreme.—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hot air.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hot%20air. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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