Bombast

Noun

Definition: Pompous or pretentious language, often used to describe someone's speech or writing.

Synonyms: Grandiloquence, Pomposity, Verbosity

Antonyms: Simplicity, Conciseness

Examples:

The politician used bombast to sound impressive, but failed to convey any meaningful message.
His bombastic speech received mixed reviews, with some finding it captivating and others dismissive.

Mnemonics:

Think of "bomb" in bombastic, representing the excessive and showy nature of bombast.
Picture a person inflating a huge balloon to represent the inflated language of bombast.

Etymology:

Origin:

The word "bombast" originated from the Latin word "bombax" meaning cotton or padded material used for stuffing.

Historical Usage:

In 16th century England, bombast was utilized in reference to padding used in clothing, later metaphorically extended to describe inflated language or expression.

Related Idioms:

Idiom:

"Full of bombast"

Explanation:

This phrase refers to someone or something that is excessively pompous or pretentious in speech or writing.

Misconceptions:

Misconception:

Confusing bombast with passion or enthusiasm.

Explanation:

Bombast refers specifically to language that is pretentious, overblown, and lacking in substance, while passion or enthusiasm denotes genuine emotion and sincerity.