bombastic

[bom-bas-tik] /bɒmˈbæs tɪk/

adjective

(of speech, writing, etc.) high-sounding; high-flown; inflated; pretentious.

Also, bombastical.

Origin

1695-1705; bombast + -ic

Related forms

bombastically, adverb

unbombastic, adjective

unbombastically, adverb

Synonyms

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.

Examples from the web for bombastic

They are quite traditionally liberal in their views--optimistic and indeed bombastic in their beliefs.
When her narrators are bombastic, they are usually winningly bombastic.
You are correct that my analogy was a little too bombastic.
But since this explanation was never fully explored earlier, it sounds bombastic and out-of-place here.
The poems are inflated by bombastic phrasing and breathless adolescent emotions.
The overblown effects feel bombastic rather than spellbinding.
Her papers are terrible: sometimes empty, sometimes hopelessly, unnecessarily bombastic or complex.
After a bombastic defense secretary, we now have a candid one.
The album concludes with five bombastic power ballads in a row.
He was emotional and provided nifty sound bites and bombastic remarks.

Word Origin and History for bombastic

adj.

1704, "inflated," from bombast + -ic. Meaning "given to bombastic language" is from 1727.