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
In the video, which was posted on YouTube, Perrin and his wife, Jenna, can be seen coming out of their home to discover a hot air balloon in their backyard.
—
Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Daily hot air balloon rides are offered through several companies that provide an aerial look at the city's expansive wine country.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
By my bedroom window, the radiator was puffing hot air.
—Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Those shallow sides let hot air from the oven circulate and crisp the ingredients’ exteriors.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot air
Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Daily hot air balloon rides are offered through several companies that provide an aerial look at the city's expansive wine country.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
By my bedroom window, the radiator was puffing hot air.
—Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Those shallow sides let hot air from the oven circulate and crisp the ingredients’ exteriors.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot air
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hot air
Noun
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Hyper-aggressive rhetoric on social media, political extremism, and the normalization of violence are certainly contributing factors.—
Andrew Cuomo,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
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Perhaps, as more and more people on the right echo white-supremacist rhetoric, some lawmakers might actually just start saying the thing out loud, and the courts will have to act.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Humble brag; That turned out to be a stroke of genius on my part.—
Marc Silver,
NPR,
19 Apr. 2026
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However, the new Master Suites may overtake Silvers in popularity; their 721-to-826 square feet include brag-worthy 270-degree views.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Insider Ian Rapoport will update those three with league chatter and trade buzz.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Their laughs and chatter fill the countryside and one another’s hearts, the merriment binding them all together like caterpillars in one big cocoon.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 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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This is the latest rant in a string of fulminations against the ABC late-night host over the past few days since Kimmel mocked the relationship between the first lady and POTUS late last week.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
30 Apr. 2026
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Expect Sykes' signature impassioned rants and a healthy dose of looking back at her career, too.—
Madeleine Janz,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hot air.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hot%20air. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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