English Explanatory Dictionary

bombastic

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. showy in speech and given to using flowery or elaborate terms; grandiloquent; pompous
  2. High‐sounding but with little meaning.
  3. Loud, aggressive, highly exaggerated, or explosive in manner or delivery; over‐the‐top.
  4. Inflated, overfilled.

Pronunciation

/bɒmˈbæs.tɪk/ /bɑmˈbæs.tɪk/ en-us-bombastic.ogg en-au-bombastic.ogg

Word forms

bombastic more bombastic most bombastic bombastical bombastick bumbastic bumbastical

Etymology

From bombast (“padding, stuffing”) + -ic, 18th century. Sense evolution possibly influenced by unrelated bomb and bombard; see also bombard phrase.

Synonyms

fustian circumlocutory diffuse periphrastic palaverous pleonastic prolix rigmarole sesquipedalian verbose wordy airy arrogant chesty authoritarian biggity big-headed blustery boastful bombastic buggish cocky conceited disdainful domineering egotistical entitled flatulent flaunting full of oneself glorious grandiose hankty haught haughty haut high-handed high-hat high and mighty highfalutin hoity-toity holier-than-thou hubristic hubristical imperious inflated insolent la-di-da orgulous ostentatious overbearing overweening pompous presumptuous pretentious priggish puffed up sanctimonious self-important snobbish

Antonyms

brief concise crisp laconic lapidary short-winded succinct tight to the point taut terse

Related words

bombast bombaster bombastically

Derived words

nonbombastic unbombastic
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