bombastic

adjective

bom·​bas·​tic bäm-ˈba-stik How to pronounce bombastic (audio)
: marked by or given to speech or writing that is given exaggerated importance by artificial or empty means : marked by or given to bombast : pompous, overblown
bombastically adverb

Examples of bombastic in a Sentence

a bombastic speech intended to impress the voters in her congressional district
Recent Examples on the Web The album in question is, of course, My 21st Century Blues, an evocative tour de force of fearless songwriting and bombastic vocal performances. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 14 Mar. 2024 Their clarity is legendary, illuminating nuances in acoustic instruments with dynamic range so wide both bombastic bass lines and ASMR whispers are revealed with meticulous finesse. Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2024 But conservatives believe another Trump wave can carry the bombastic GOP contender to victory by leaning into Biden's unpopularity and the migrant crisis at the southern border. Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024 The director of the Instituto turned out to be a bombastic character with wild, frizzy hair and an Astrakhan cap, whom everyone called Profesor Reina. Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2024 Yevgeny Prigozhin Yevgeny Prigozhin, the bombastic mercenary boss – once one of the country’s most powerful oligarchs and a member of Putin’s trusted inner circle, died in 2023. Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 16 Feb. 2024 Early on, DeSantis was considered the most likely contender to take on the former president by harnessing many of the same culture war issues that appeal to Trump’s base but promising a new start for voters who were tired of Trump’s bombastic style. USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2024 But naturally, bombastic creative director Daniel Roseberry made the proportions – and inner corsetry–extreme. Alice Newbold, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2024 There was a push and pull from bombastic to quiet moments while making room for both Metro Bloomin’s songs and Daniel Pemberton’s score. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 8 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bombastic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

bombast + -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bombastic was in 1660

Dictionary Entries Near bombastic

Cite this Entry

“Bombastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bombastic. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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