as in to rant
disapproving
to speak or express your opinion about something in a way that shows that you think you are always right
We had to listen to her pontificate about the best way to raise children.
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Recent Examples of pontificate
From a purple-pod terminalia tree a crimson-breasted shrike pontificated at us.
—
AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025
In the 1960s, Canadians hungered for public intellectuals pontificating on the distinctiveness of their identity.
—Dónal Gill, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
This is the mark of a visionary—not waiting for consensus, but creating the future while others pontificate about it.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Rather than the writer pontificating about how Pfleger needs to retire from active priesthood, how about a better use of his time by advocating the notion that pedophile priests should be retired to jail.
—Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pontificate
AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025
In the 1960s, Canadians hungered for public intellectuals pontificating on the distinctiveness of their identity.
—Dónal Gill, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
This is the mark of a visionary—not waiting for consensus, but creating the future while others pontificate about it.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Rather than the writer pontificating about how Pfleger needs to retire from active priesthood, how about a better use of his time by advocating the notion that pedophile priests should be retired to jail.
—Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pontificate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pontificate
Verb
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Was there ever a great Final Four that didn't have one guy in a suit (or pullover) lording over the media room, ranting in the locker room or pointing fingers on one of those sidelines?—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
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Trump later took to his Truth Social page to continue ranting against the ballroom construction block.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Just how blessings work, the reviews are raving of blessings & miracles from this dish.—
Jenny Rosenstrach,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
2 Apr. 2026
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Shesterkin made 22 saves in net, and Sullivan raved about his work ethic and competitiveness in his postgame press conference.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pontificate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pontificate. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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