grandiloquence

noun

gran·​dil·​o·​quence gran-ˈdi-lə-kwən(t)s 

: a lofty, extravagantly colorful, pompous, or bombastic style, manner, or quality especially in language

was urged to follow up his grandiloquence with positive action

grandiloquent

gran-ˈdi-lə-kwənt 

adjective

grandiloquently adverb

Did you know?

Grandiloquence is a word for highfalutin speech that itself has somewhat of a highfalutin ring. It’s one of several English words related to speech that come from the Latin verb loqui, meaning “to speak,” including loquacious (“full of excessive talk”), soliloquy (“a long, dramatic monologue”), and, notably, eloquence, which refers to the ability to speak or write well and in an effective or persuasive way. Those who use grandiloquence in their speech or prose could also be described as a bit extra in their attempts at eloquence—the grand in grandiloquence traces back to the Latin adjective grandis meaning “great” or “grand.”

Synonyms

• bluster
• bombast
• brag
• braggadocio
• bull [slang]
• cockalorum
• fanfaronade
• gas
• gasconade
• hot air
• magniloquence
• rant
• rodomontade
• rhodomontade

Examples of grandiloquence in a Sentence

a heavyweight champion who was famous for his entertaining grandiloquence prior to every match

the predictably wearisome grandiloquence of the speeches at a political convention

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Rylance plays him with chest puffed out into grandiloquence, the painful shuffle of a man with no unbroken bones, and the periodic grace of a pixie. —Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 14 June 2022

At least some of the grandiloquence proved justified. —Idrees Kahloon, The New Yorker, 16 May 2022

Many times, vision statements end up being washed up by grandiloquence. —Nacho De Marco, Forbes, 26 Jan. 2022

There will be plenty more rhetoric, pomposity and grandiloquence in the next few weeks as negotiations between the union and MLB get hot and heavy. —Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY, 13 May 2020

Behind the grandiloquence of his note was a young man, alone, under extraordinary stress. —Barton Gellman, Washington Post, 11 May 2020

His most recent high-profile job, foreign secretary, found him ill at ease in a role that required more gravitas than grandiloquence. —Benjamin Mueller, New York Times, 22 July 2019

Word History

Etymology

probably from Middle French, from Latin grandiloquus using lofty language, from grandis + loqui to speak

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

grandiloquence

noun

gran·​dil·​o·​quence gran-ˈdil-ə-kwən(t)s 

: high-sounding or overly impressive language in speech or writing : bombast

grandiloquent

-kwənt 

adjective

grandiloquently adverb