bombast

American  

[bom-bast] / ˈbɒm bæst /

noun

1. speech too pompous for an occasion; pretentious words.

2. Obsolete. cotton or other material used to stuff garments; padding.

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adjective

1. Obsolete. bombastic.

bombast British  

/ ˈbɒmbæst /

noun

1. pompous and grandiloquent language

2. obsolete material used for padding

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Other Word Forms

• bombastic adjective
• bombastically adverb

Etymology

Origin of bombast

1560–70; earlier bombace padding < Middle French < Medieval Latin bombācem, accusative of bombāx; bombax family

Example Sentences

By Wednesday afternoon, the president had apparently decided to try to bring some of his verve and bombast to the White House’s East Room.

From Salon

The 42-year-old Pacific Palisades native attributes his many lives to having an unparalleled amount of energy, a strain of inner bombast that could be likened to strobes of light and patterns behind closed eyelids.

From Los Angeles Times

Schwartz has composed an American time capsule of Broadway pop, with as much variety as “Wicked” though with less bombast and no real standout blockbuster numbers.

From Los Angeles Times

And confetti cannons rained glitter over him as the brass bombast of Land of Hope and Glory rang out and a giant union jack appeared on the screen behind him.

From BBC

And throughout all of the bulging bombast, Qualley maintains determined eye contact with the camera, reminding the audience that both the character and the actor playing her remain in complete control.

From Salon