Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Lofty and extravagant in speech; grandiloquent.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Speaking or writing in a lofty style; grandiloquent; bombastic.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Speaking pompously; using swelling discourse; bombastic; tumid in style; grandiloquent.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Speaking pompously; using swelling discourse; bombastic; tumid in style; grandiloquent.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective lofty in style

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Back formation from magniloquence, grandiloquence, from Latin magniloquentia : magnus, great; see meg- in Indo-European roots + loquēns, loquent-, present participle of loquī, to speak; see tolkw- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Formed as magni- + -loquent; compare the post-Classical Latin magniloquens ("talkative”, “verbose").

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Examples

  • Briefly, _Tamburlaine_ -- the play which made the greatest impression on the playwrights of its time -- may be described as a magniloquent account of the career of a world-conqueror whose resistless triumph over kingdoms and potentates, signalized by acts of monstrous insolence, provides excuse for outbursts of extravagant vainglory.

    The Growth of English Drama Arnold Wynne

  • "Come Around Sundown," the band's fifth album, is thick with growly, momentous rock songs that arrive in an era dominated by magnificent pop stars (Lady Gaga), magniloquent rap stars (Lil Wayne) and mash-ups of the two (Kanye West).

    Album review: Kings of Leon, "Come Around Sundown" Chris Richards 2010

  • Before he even speaks we glean Quixote's character -- eloquent, fearless and frail -- in Gaines' gestures and movement, so that when he launches into some magniloquent knight errant business, it only confirms what we already knew about him.

    James Scarborough: Man of La Mancha at Musical Theatre West James Scarborough 2012

  • Before he even speaks we glean Quixote's character -- eloquent, fearless and frail -- in Gaines' gestures and movement, so that when he launches into some magniloquent knight errant business, it only confirms what we already knew about him.

    James Scarborough: Man of La Mancha at Musical Theatre West James Scarborough 2012

  • Before he even speaks we glean Quixote's character -- eloquent, fearless and frail -- in Gaines' gestures and movement, so that when he launches into some magniloquent knight errant business, it only confirms what we already knew about him.

    James Scarborough: Man of La Mancha at Musical Theatre West James Scarborough 2012

  • Yeah, I agree the whole Tebow thing got to be too much, saturated with hyperbole and strained, magniloquent theories about why he'd become the country's most-discussed athlete.

    Adjusting to Life Without Tebow Jason Gay 2012

  • "Come Around Sundown," the band's fifth album, is thick with growly, momentous rock songs that arrive in an era dominated by magnificent pop stars (Lady Gaga), magniloquent rap stars (Lil Wayne) and mash-ups of the two (Kanye West).

    Kings of Leon bemoan their rock stardom on latest album, 'Come Around Sundown' Chris Richards 2010

  • His magniloquent posturing and googly-eyed visage imbue the picture with an irresistible mixture of foolhardy bravado and touching fearlessness needed by practitioners of a blood sport that Picasso identified as having much in common with his own high-risk line of work.

    The Late Show Filler, Martin 2009

  • But already, before that final catastrophe, the second world war showed up the weakness of industry despite all the magniloquent (and typically fascist) boasting that it was as efficient as that of America and far better than that of Soviet Russia.

    A Body Divided, 1 2009

  • Edmund Spenser's refrain "Sweet Thames! run softly, till I end my song" is often quoted in disquisitions upon it; but the loud magniloquent song of the Thames itself will never end.

    In Praise Of London's 'Old Father' 2008

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