1
as in rhetoric
boastful speech or writing
a heavyweight champion who was famous for his entertaining grandiloquence prior to every match
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2
as in bombast
language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere
the predictably wearisome grandiloquence of the speeches at a political convention
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grandiloquence
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
Rylance plays him with chest puffed out into grandiloquence, the painful shuffle of a man with no unbroken bones, and the periodic grace of a pixie.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 14 June 2022
At least some of the grandiloquence proved justified.
—Idrees Kahloon, The New Yorker, 16 May 2022
Many times, vision statements end up being washed up by grandiloquence.
—Nacho De Marco, Forbes, 26 Jan. 2022
There will be plenty more rhetoric, pomposity and grandiloquence in the next few weeks as negotiations between the union and MLB get hot and heavy.
—Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY, 13 May 2020
Behind the grandiloquence of his note was a young man, alone, under extraordinary stress.
—Barton Gellman, Washington Post, 11 May 2020
His most recent high-profile job, foreign secretary, found him ill at ease in a role that required more gravitas than grandiloquence.
—Benjamin Mueller, New York Times, 22 July 2019
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
Rylance plays him with chest puffed out into grandiloquence, the painful shuffle of a man with no unbroken bones, and the periodic grace of a pixie.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 14 June 2022
At least some of the grandiloquence proved justified.
—Idrees Kahloon, The New Yorker, 16 May 2022
Many times, vision statements end up being washed up by grandiloquence.
—Nacho De Marco, Forbes, 26 Jan. 2022
There will be plenty more rhetoric, pomposity and grandiloquence in the next few weeks as negotiations between the union and MLB get hot and heavy.
—Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY, 13 May 2020
Behind the grandiloquence of his note was a young man, alone, under extraordinary stress.
—Barton Gellman, Washington Post, 11 May 2020
His most recent high-profile job, foreign secretary, found him ill at ease in a role that required more gravitas than grandiloquence.
—Benjamin Mueller, New York Times, 22 July 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grandiloquence
Noun
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Medvedev's comments, posted to Telegram on Saturday, suggested that Vance's rhetoric took European leaders by surprise and aligned with Russian criticisms of Western democracies.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
15 Feb. 2025
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However, Baird’s Mayfield noted that traders will likely be kept on their toes in regards to trade policy, and will have to learn to live with the uncertainty around the president’s rhetoric on trade.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The country will be served another helping of his bombast for the next four years.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Jan. 2025
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In many ways, the letter that President-elect Donald J. Trump’s criminal defense lawyers sent to the Justice Department this week was a display of legal and political bombast.—
Alan Feuer,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Some of the braggadocio Bregman displayed during the previous two seasons disappeared, but his behind-the-scenes leadership did not.—
Chandler Rome,
The Athletic,
12 Feb. 2025
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At the same time, his braggadocio stirred an excitement that hadn’t been seen for any boxer in years.—
Mikal Gilmore,
Rolling Stone,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The humble brag is a new shiny toy for some people.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
5 Dec. 2024
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The brag quickly caught the attention of Swift fans across social media, who rushed to attack Spector while defending Swift.—
Jackson Thompson,
Fox News,
19 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Grandiloquence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grandiloquence. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
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