grandiloquence

gran·dil·o·quence

noun \gran-ˈdi-lə-kwən(t)s\

Definition of GRANDILOQUENCE

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

— gran·dil·o·quent \-kwənt\ adjective

— gran·dil·o·quent·ly adverb

Examples of GRANDILOQUENCE

1. <a heavyweight champion who was famous for his entertaining grandiloquence prior to every match>
2. <the predictably wearisome grandiloquence of the speeches at a political convention>

Origin of GRANDILOQUENCE

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

First Known Use: 1589

Related to GRANDILOQUENCE

Synonyms: bluster, brag, braggadocio, bull [slang], cockalorum, fanfaronade, gas, gasconade, bombast, hot air, magniloquence, rant, rodomontade (also rhodomontade)

Related Words: oratory, rhapsody, rhetoric; pomposity, turgidity, wind; bloviation, verbosity, windiness; babble, blab, chatter, drivel, gabble, gibber, gibberish, jabber, prattle; jawing, patter, prating, yammering; egotism, self-conceit, self-importance, swagger, vaunt

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