bombast

noun

ˈbäm-ˌbast How to pronounce bombast (audio)
Definition of bombastnext
1
as in rhetoric
boastful speech or writing the other world leaders at the international conference had little interest in being subjected to the president's bombast

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2
as in grandiloquence
language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere you need less bombast and more substance in this speech on human rights

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bombast For all the bombast surrounding the official proceedings, beginning with the UFC fight at the White House, elsewhere the mood has seemed subdued. — Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026 Brian Gibson’s gangrenous bass riffs and gibbering, muffled vocals have even more gonzo energy than usual, while Chippendale mixes bombast and finesse with his customary flair. — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 24 Apr. 2026 That’s not just because Miller’s presence rings bittersweet given the actor’s real life struggles and controversies today, but also because this relatively modest affair lacks most of Levinson’s aesthetic and bombast. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026 The documentary’s contradiction is right there, enthralling us with the wild achievements Potter pulled off and frustrating us with his bombast, leading us to ponder whether, as The Dark Wizard suggests, either could exist without the other. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for bombast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bombast
  1. rhetoric
  2. grandiloquence
  3. braggadocio
  4. magniloquence
  5. bluster
  6. chatter
Noun
  • For too long Western leaders have been deterred by Putin’s escalation rhetoric.
    — David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Concha argued that her positions and rhetoric reflect a broader shift in the Democratic Party toward socialism and extremism.
    — Kiara Moore, The Washington Examiner, 30 June 2026
Definition of rhetoric
Noun
  • Much of that singularity was centered in McCarthy’s prose, which ricocheted—sometimes gracefully, sometimes jarringly—between gruff matter-of-factness and soaring, biblical grandiloquence.
    — Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 13 June 2023
  • Several of them can fly, and all have at least a touch of grandiloquence to them.
    — Michael Nordine, Variety, 11 Aug. 2022
Definition of grandiloquence
Noun
  • In person, Huang subdues his ironic braggadocio with polite eye contact and rolling belly laughs at his own jokes.
    — Mariella Rudi, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • This is another stride of lyricism, philosophy, I’m-the-best braggadocio, bravado.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Definition of braggadocio
Noun
  • Hammy magniloquence risks alienating viewers, not just for an evening but for life, as does obscurity.
    — The Economist, The Economist, 15 Mar. 2018
Definition of magniloquence
Noun
  • Like every precocious rising star fluent in the dialect of bluster, Wembanyama talked big, too.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 24 June 2026
  • And to be sure, much talk of a pause by American companies might just be bluster—easy statements for leaders to make in the knowledge that a pause is a political non-starter.
    — Billy Perrigo, Time, 23 June 2026
Definition of bluster
Noun
  • Emmys season is about ot begin, and with it, a slew of contenders destined for nominations and memorialization by way of snubs chatter.
    — Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 4 July 2026
  • There is a lot of chatter out there on the interwebs about who will and won’t be in the house for Big Brother season 28.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026
Definition of chatter

Browse Nearby Words

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bombast
bombastic
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Cite this Entry

“Bombast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bombast. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of bombast for Spanish Speakers

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