adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation, US:/ɡɹænˈdɪl.ə.kwənt/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:G R AE0 N D IH1 L AH0 K W AH0 N T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Given to using language in a showy way by using an excessive number of difficult words to impress others; bombastic; turgid.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: their language or writing
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adjective satellite
Meaning 2
puffed up with vanity- Newsweek
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a grandiloquent and boastful manner
overblown oratory
a pompous speech
pseudo-scientific gobbledygook and pontifical hooey
he engages in so much tall talk, one never really realizes what he is saying
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: magniloquent, tall
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle French grandiloquent, from Latin grandiloquus, from grandis (“great, full”) + loquēns, present participle of loquor (“to speak”). Compare eloquent.
Across languages
Translations
21 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
надут
(nadut)
— overly wordy or elaborate
Bulgarian:
високопарен
(visokoparen)
— overly wordy or elaborate
Catalan:
grandiloqüent
— overly wordy or elaborate
Czech:
velkohubý
— overly wordy or elaborate
Finnish:
mahtipontinen
— overly wordy or elaborate
Finnish:
suurieleinen
— overly wordy or elaborate
French:
grandiloquent
— overly wordy or elaborate
Greek:
μεγαλόστομος
(megalóstomos)
— overly wordy or elaborate
Greek:
μεγαλορρήμονας
(megalorrímonas)
— overly wordy or elaborate
Greek:
πομπώδης
(pompódis)
— overly wordy or elaborate
Hungarian:
szónokias
— overly wordy or elaborate
Hungarian:
dagályos
— overly wordy or elaborate
Latin:
grandiloquus
— overly wordy or elaborate
Polish:
górnolotny
— overly wordy or elaborate
Polish:
grandilokwentny
— overly wordy or elaborate
Portuguese:
grandiloquente
— overly wordy or elaborate
Russian:
напы́щенный
(napýščennyj)
— overly wordy or elaborate
Spanish:
grandilocuente
— overly wordy or elaborate
Spanish:
rimbombante
— overly wordy or elaborate
Spanish:
grandisonante
— overly wordy or elaborate
