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bombastic

 - 2 dictionary results

bom⋅bas⋅tic

[bom-bas-tik]
–adjective
(of speech, writing, etc.) high-sounding; high-flown; inflated; pretentious.
Also, bom⋅bas⋅ti⋅cal.


Origin:
1695–1705; bombast + -ic


bom⋅bas⋅ti⋅cal⋅ly, adverb


pompous, grandiloquent, turgid, florid, grandiose. 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 Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To bombastic
bom·bast   (bŏm'bāst')   
n.  Grandiloquent, pompous speech or writing.

[Alteration of obsolete bombace, cotton padding, from Old French, from Medieval Latin bombax, bombac-, cotton; see bombazine.]
bom'bast'er n., bom·bas'tic adj., bom·bas'ti·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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