as in hifalutin
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as in moralizing
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as in ranting
disapproving
to speak or express your opinion about something in a way that shows that you think you are always right
We had to listen to her pontificate about the best way to raise children.
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pontificating
Verb
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Last week, Fox premiered the new comedy Going Dutch, about a ranting conservative father (Denis Leary) forced to reconnect with his estranged liberal daughter (Taylor Misiak).—
Daniel Fienberg,
The Hollywood Reporter,
3 Sep. 2019 -
The Pats addressed two of their biggest needs, but instead in Tuesday’s paper there’s me, smiling in my headshot and ranting in print, a clueless dope.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
12 Mar. 2024
Adjective
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Still, in many voters’ minds, the association between Democrats and supercilious scolding seems hard to shake.—
Andrew Marantz,
The New Yorker,
14 Dec. 2024
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Even Lu, most closed and supercilious of the bunch, has weird, troubled reservoirs of shame that gradually start to froth and bubble.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
19 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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My Heart Skipped, the magisterial prison drama A Prophet or the equally bleak Palme d’Or winner Dheepan.—
Julian Sancton,
The Hollywood Reporter,
11 Jan. 2025
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His magisterial trilogy, The Coming of the Third Reich, The Third Reich in Power, and The Third Reich at War, is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand the forces that shaped the world between the end of World War I and 1945.—
Jim Kelly,
airmail.news,
10 Aug. 2024
Noun
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Explore the history and legacy of the Rosewood Massacre of 1923 through an insightful lecture and exhibit; 5:30-6:30 p.m., Books & Books, 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables.—
Angel Doval,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2025
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What To Know According to details shared by Doubleday, the book opens in Prague, where Langdon plans to attend a lecture by noetic scientist Katherine Solomon.—
Jonathan Granoff,
Newsweek,
29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The prose is confiding and, in places, pontifical.—
Judith Thurman,
The New Yorker,
24 Aug. 2020
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That revelation, coupled with other recent pontifical critiques, have quickly dissolved the notion that the Dec. 31 death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, a symbolic leader of the church’s conservative wing, might lessen the opposition to Francis.—
Stefano Pitrelli,
Washington Post,
18 Jan. 2023
Noun
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Orbán perpetually runs interference for Putin, China, et al.—
Jay Nordlinger,
National Review,
29 Jan. 2025
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Thomas would strip these agencies of their protections against political interference, and Trump would love that.—
Jonathan Granoff,
Newsweek,
29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The Inside Llewyn Davis star plays Victor Frankenstein, the arrogant scientist who successfully creates life out of an assemblage of deceased body parts.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
30 Jan. 2025
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An arrogant advertiser at the peak of success is forced to promote a tycoon as a presidential candidate, while a mysterious stalker threatens to destroy his agency and his reputation.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
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He’s been writing, editing and teaching for nearly 50 years, with stops in Hagerstown, Maryland; Riverside, California; Annapolis; Baltimore; and, since 1981, Washington.—
David Lightman,
Sacramento Bee,
21 Jan. 2025
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Specifically, the teachings of Immanuel Kant made an indelible impact.—
Michael Ashley,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
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Thesaurus Entries Near pontificating
Cite this Entry
“Pontificating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pontificating. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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