Bombastic: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe speech or writing that is high-sounding but with little meaning, often to impress others.

• His bombastic speech left the audience more confused than informed
• The politician’s bombastic promises were hardly believable

Used to describe someone who is self-important and arrogant, often in their speech or manner. This term is negative.

• The pompous professor talked down to his students
• His pompous attitude made him hard to work with

Used in formal or literary contexts to describe a lofty, extravagant style of speaking or writing.

• The author's grandiloquent prose was beautiful but difficult to understand
• He made a grandiloquent speech full of big words and complex sentences

Used to describe speech or writing that uses more words than necessary. It often has a negative connotation, implying a lack of clarity.

• His verbose explanation confused everyone
• The document was too verbose and difficult to read

Used to describe someone or something trying to appear more important or intelligent than they actually are, often in a way that others find annoying.

• The restaurant's pretentious menu was filled with overly fancy dishes
• She found his pretentious comments to be quite off-putting

Used to describe something, often speech or writing, that is exaggerated and lacking in substance. It can have a negative connotation.

• The movie had an overblown plot that was hard to follow
• Her overblown praise seemed insincere