grandiloquence
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of grandiloquence
1580–90; < Latin grandiloqu ( us ) speaking loftily ( grandi ( s ) great + -loquus speaking) + -ence
Explanation
Grandiloquence is a lofty, high-flown style of talking that has a lot of fluff but may lack substance. It’s too grand to be eloquent, so grandiloquence is usually annoying. Grandiloquence comes from the Latin word grandis for, yes, “grand” and loqui for “speak.”Grandiloquence is also related to loquacious (talkative), soliloquy (a solo speech), and other words about talk. Grandiloquence is a type of talk that is pompous and bombastic, full of pretty-sounding words and elegant turns of phrase that add up to nothing. Politicians who say nothing but make it sound important are masters of grandiloquence.
Vocabulary lists containing grandiloquence
List 7
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List 13
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The Great Santini
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Authentic Presence” manages to feel weighty while also ephemeral, grand without grandiloquence, understated in its execution yet unafraid of dramatic gesture.
From New York Times ● Jun. 9, 2022
His often hilarious struggles are related by Big’s little brother, Meed — short for “Medium Big” — with a marvelously rough-hewn quality that is perfectly captured through the halting grandiloquence of Feodor Chin’s inspired narration.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 8, 2021
Smith’s a charismatic hero, Newton infectiously game, and it’s a hoot to hear Nighy intoning gibberish about the next evolution of Pokémon with Shakespearean grandiloquence.
From Slate ● May 8, 2019
Balancing moments like that were more subdued performances that relied more on songwriting and expressive vocal strength than musical theater grandiloquence.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 9, 2016
With a certain dramatic grandiloquence, he slurped the oyster into his mouth.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
