Bombast
Bombast is inflated, showy language that tries to sound impressive but comes across as empty or overdone. In poetry, it usually describes diction that is too grand for the subject or so full of rhetoric that it weakens the poem's effect.
Example
He swore the moon was forged in fire
and placed above the world by kings,
though all he meant was a night sky
hung quiet over ordinary things.
Related Definitions
[n] Bombast is the use of grandiose and exaggerated language to impress or overwhelm. This style of communication often comes across as pretentious and insincere. Bombastic language can obscure the intended message and alienate listeners with its excessive and showy nature. It's essential to be mindful of using bombast in communication, as clarity and authenticity are critical in practical and meaningful interactions.
Related Terms
absurdity, amphigory, babble, babblement, balderdash, bibble-babble, blabber, blather, bluster, boast, boastfulness, boasting, bombastry, brag, braggadocio, braggartism, bragging, bravado, claptrap, conceit, double-talk, drivel, drool, fanfaronade, fiddle