bombastic
[bom-bas-tik]
- (of speech, writing, etc.) high-sounding; high-flown; inflated; pretentious.
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Also bom·bas·ti·cal.
Origin of bombastic
Synonyms
See more synonyms for bombastic on Thesaurus.compompous, grandiloquent, turgid, florid, grandiose.
Synonym study
Bombastic, flowery, pretentious, verbose all describe a use or a user of language more elaborate than is justified by or appropriate to the content being expressed. Bombastic suggests language with a theatricality or staginess of style far too powerful or declamatory for the meaning or sentiment being expressed: a bombastic sermon on the evils of cardplaying. Flowery describes language filled with extravagant images and ornate expressions: a flowery eulogy. Pretentious refers specifically to language that is purposely inflated in an effort to impress: a pretentious essay designed to demonstrate one's sophistication. Verbose characterizes utterances or speakers that use more words than necessary to express an idea: a verbose speech, speaker.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for bombastic
Contemporary Examples
It opens with a bombastic set piece, but it was far less compelling than many of the little, dialogue-driven conflicts that arose.
‘Game of Thrones’ Interactive FanFiction: Whoops, My Friend Was Speared in the ThroatAlec Kubas-Meyer
December 13, 2014
In a TiVo age, who watches political ads anyway, no matter how specious or bombastic?
And most live music is bombastic, because that's the only way to make money in 2014.
Beck’s Musical Time Machine: This Wasn’t a Concert. It was a Spectacular Party.Andrew Romano
April 18, 2014
Nicolas Sarkozy has broken his studied silence in a bombastic op-ed.
You would never know that Larson was infamous in evangelical circles for his bombastic showmanship by talking to him.
Historical Examples
Besides all which, even the report of his wealth seemed to him, he said, bombastic nonsense.
HellenicaXenophon
His language in those telegrams and letters was highfaluting and bombastic.
England and GermanyEmile Joseph Dillon
It was bombastic stuff, but my blind, boyish belief in it gave it dignity.
A Son of the Middle BorderHamlin Garland
And to think, in a moment of spite, I'd have given it to that bombastic warrior!
Two Men of Sandy BarBret Harte
There is a great deal of ostentation and bombastic pomp about it.
VeniceDorothy Menpes
Word Origin and History for bombastic
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper