Bombastic Meaning in English

word

US

bɑmˈbæstɪk

bahm-BAS-tik

UK

bəmbˈɑːstɪk

buhm-BAH-stik

Definition

Describes speech or writing that uses impressive-sounding words, but has little real meaning; overly grand or showy.

Usage & Nuances

Often negative; used to criticize people who use fancy language to impress. Common collocations: 'bombastic speech', 'bombastic style'. Be careful: does not mean dangerous (like 'bomb'). Mainly formal or academic.

• Spanish: rimbombante - grandilocuente
• Portuguese (BR): pomposo - bombástico - grandioso (linguagem)
• Portuguese (PT): pomposo - bombástico - grandioso (linguagem)
• Chinese (Simplified): 夸大的 - 夸张的
• Chinese (Traditional): 誇大的 - 誇張的
• Hindi: बहुत आडंबरपूर्ण - दिखावटी
• Arabic: منمق - متفاخر
• Bengali: আড়ম্বরপূর্ণ - জাঁকজমকপূর্ণ - আলংকারিক
• Russian: напыщенный - громогласный - высокопарный
• Japanese: 大げさな - 仰々しい
• Vietnamese: khoa trương - phô trương
• Korean: 과장된 - 허풍떠는
• Turkish: abartılı - süslü (dil)
• Urdu: پرشکوہ - دکھاوے دار
• Indonesian: berlebihan - bombastis

Example Sentences

The politician gave a bombastic speech.

basic

His writing style is too bombastic for this magazine.

basic

People laughed at his bombastic comments.

basic

I wish he would stop being so bombastic every time he talks.

natural

That movie review was so bombastic, I couldn't take it seriously.

natural

He loves using bombastic language to sound important.

natural