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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Donald Trump is threatening to use economic force to annex Canada, and Canadians are expected to go to the polls within weeks to decide who will guard the net—Carney or Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, whose populist bombast is unusually intense for Canadian politics.
—
Stephen Maher, TIME, 9 Mar. 2025
But the Liberals also did an excellent job of capitalizing on the U.S. president’s bombast.
—Daniel Block, The Atlantic, 29 Apr. 2025
As a show, Agent Carter was full of fun and bombast, showing some of what its eponymous lead got up to after losing her love, Steve Rogers.
—Nola Pfau, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2025
In previous years, Bun B’s takeovers—H-Town, Southern, and All-American, respectively—leaned heavily into the bombast of hip-hop, an all-star showcase of Southern rap royalty.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bombast
Stephen Maher, TIME, 9 Mar. 2025
But the Liberals also did an excellent job of capitalizing on the U.S. president’s bombast.
—Daniel Block, The Atlantic, 29 Apr. 2025
As a show, Agent Carter was full of fun and bombast, showing some of what its eponymous lead got up to after losing her love, Steve Rogers.
—Nola Pfau, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2025
In previous years, Bun B’s takeovers—H-Town, Southern, and All-American, respectively—leaned heavily into the bombast of hip-hop, an all-star showcase of Southern rap royalty.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bombast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bombast
Noun
-
Drawing the line between criticism and hate Jonathan, a Jewish young professional in Washington, D.C., said political leaders must more clearly condemn rhetoric that veers into incitement.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
3 June 2025
-
The most frequently cited reasons for wanting to move were concerns about LGBTQ+ rights – 76% – the sociopolitical climate – 71% – anti-trans rhetoric and climate – 60% – and anti-trans laws and policies – 47%.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
3 June 2025
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
Noun
-
The news was an opportunity for Gov. Gavin Newsom to exercise his penchant for braggadocio.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
9 May 2025
-
Latto popped up first on the track, bringing some braggadocios bars before G Herbo jumped in with his rambunctious energy.—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Archetypal playboy Eddie Irvine has always loved a humble brag, renowned for accumulating a long list boys toys assets after following a successful F1 career.—
Julia Zaltzman,
Robb Report,
24 May 2025
-
Loewe’s Puzzle bag, which Anderson introduced in his first collection, and which is made from soft leather cut into patchwork pieces and then stitched back together at rakish angles, is a choice non-blingy brag.—
Rebecca Mead,
The New Yorker,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Whether any of it’s real or just his usual bluster and hocus and pocus, without, that is, any real magic.—
Bill Mechanic,
Deadline,
15 May 2025
-
But his bluster isn’t unheard of in White House history, and not even just in U.S. relations with Denmark.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
On December 7, after a 4-2 defeat at Brentford, Newcastle were 12th in the table and, externally, there was chatter about Eddie Howe’s position.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
-
Suddenly, though, there is a confluence of intriguing points: The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that, if the chatter is to be believed, will see resistance in the Senate but that resistance will be about some combination of spending cuts and tax increases.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bombast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bombast. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share