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pompous

adjective
pomp·​ous | \ ˈpäm-pÉ™s How to pronounce pompous (audio) \

Definition of pompous

1 : excessively elevated or ornate pompous rhetoric
2 : having or exhibiting self-importance : arrogant a pompous politician
3 : relating to or suggestive of pomp or splendor : magnificent
Other Words from pompous Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about pompous

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Other Words from pompous

pompously adverb
pompousness noun

Examples of pompous in a Sentence

So as the pictures of flooded shanties flicker by on cable news, uptight neatnik Midwestern Lutherans and sensitive northeastern urban sophisticates and pompous media grandees on both coasts express shock at the unexpected squalor of the poverty and bafflement over the slovenly corruption of the civic institutions. — Rob Long, National Review, 26 Sept. 2005 President Warren Harding was an orator, but his bloviations were an army of pompous phrases moving across the landscape in search of an idea. — Harold Evans, New York Times Book Review, 11 Nov. 2001 She never allowed her spirit to become, as, say, Henry Adams did, curdled by long exposure to Washington's tawdry and pompous aspects. — George F. Will, Newsweek, 24 May 1999 She found it difficult to talk about her achievements without sounding pompous. the pompous waiter served us in the manner of a person doing some poor soul a great favor
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Recent Examples on the Web

 As played by Mark Lewis, the father is pompous and patriarchal, yet tender-hearted and protective. — Los Angeles Times, "Review: At Theatricum, humans survive apocalypse by ‘The Skin of Our Teeth’," 9 Aug. 2019 One photoshopped a pompous-looking golden tower into a picture of Greenlandic villages with colorful two-story wooden houses. — Martin Selsoe Sorensen, BostonGlobe.com, "‘Not for sale’: Trump’s talk of buying Greenland draws derision," 16 Aug. 2019 Roman is as snarkily useless as ever, Shiv as untrustworthy, Matthew Macfadyen’s Tom as majestically pompous and charisma-free. — Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, "Succession Is Better Than Ever," 11 Aug. 2019 Naturally, despite an abundance of motive in Malcolm's inner circle, the easy targets here are Nick and Audrey, who quickly arouse the suspicions of the pompous French detective (Dany Boon) assigned to investigate. — Justin Chang, chicagotribune.com, "'Murder Mystery' review: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston take a European vacation," 14 June 2019 The Barber of Seville Cinnabar Theater presents Rossini’s romantic comedy opera about a savvy young woman must outsmart a pompous old lecher who stands between her and her true love. — SFChronicle.com, "Theater listings," 18 June 2019 Many critics, me among them, have lamented 550 Madison’s pompous postmodernism. — Blair Kamin, chicagotribune.com, "Tigerman's death should serve as a wake-up call: Protect the architecture of the recent past," 7 June 2019 And the media here seems to me insufferably pompous and self-regarding. — Fox News, "White House outlines strategy to combat meddling threat," 2 Aug. 2018 Enter Jake Gyllenhaal’s Morf Vandewalt (even his name is pretentious), the pompous, obnoxious art critic who has the power to manipulate the art world conversation for his own gain, making and breaking the careers of artists and dealers with glee. — Candice Frederick, Harper's BAZAAR, "Netflix's Velvet Buzzsaw Shouldn't Work—But It (Mostly) Does," 3 Feb. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pompous.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of pompous

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for pompous

see pomp

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More Definitions for pompous

pompous

adjective
How to pronounce pompous (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of pompous

disapproving : having or showing the attitude of people who speak and behave in a very formal and serious way because they believe that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people

See the full definition for pompous in the English Language Learners Dictionary

pompous

adjective
pomp·​ous | \ ˈpäm-pÉ™s How to pronounce pompous (audio) \

Kids Definition of pompous

: having or showing an attitude of someone who thinks he or she is better than other people a pompous person a pompous manner

Other Words from pompous

pompously adverb

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