Bombastic

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /bÉ’mˈbæs.tɪk/
• US IPA: /bÉ‘mˈbæs.tʰɪk/
• Rhymes: -æstɪk

Alternative forms

• bombastick obsolete

Origin

Either from bombast ("padding, stuffing"), or from middle name of Paracelsus (Theophrastus Bombastus), who often used extremely arrogant speaking style.

Full definition of bombastic

Adjective

1. (of a person, their language or writing) showy in speech and given to using flowery or elaborate terms; grandiloquent; pompous
2. High-sounding but with little meaning.
3. (archaic) Inflated, overfilled.

Synonyms

• (pompous or overly wordy) blustering, grandiloquent, pompous, verbose, florid
• (inflated, overfilled) inflated, turgid

Antonyms

• (pompous or overly wordy) concise, succinct

Related terms

• bombast
• bombaster
• bombastically

Descendants

• French: bombastique
• Spanish: bombástico