bombastic
UK /bɒmˈbæs.tɪk/ · US /bɑmˈbæs.tɪk/ adjective
Forms bombastical bombastick bumbastic bumbastical
- adjective (of a person, their language or writing) showy in speech and given to using flowery or elaborate terms; grandiloquent; pompous
- adjective High‐sounding but with little meaning.
- adjective (colloquial) Loud, aggressive, highly exaggerated, or explosive in manner or delivery; over‐the‐top.
- adjective (archaic) Inflated, overfilled.
Synonyms
circumlocutory diffuse periphrastic palaverous pleonastic prolix rigmarole sesquipedalian verbose wordy airy arrogant chesty authoritarian biggity big-headed blustery turgescent boastful lordly declamatory large orotund tumid turgid
Antonyms
brief concise crisp laconic lapidary short-winded succinct tight to the point taut terse
Etymology
From bombast (“padding, stuffing”) + -ic, 18th century. Sense evolution possibly influenced by unrelated bomb and bombard; see also bombard phrase.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Characterized by bombast; highsounding; inflated.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “bombastic”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details