blowhard

Blowhard is a noun referring to a person who talks in a loud, boastful, and often long-winded manner, typically about themselves or their supposed abilities and accomplishments. The term connotes arrogance and insincerity, and is usually used as a pejorative. A blowhard may dominate conversations, exaggerate claims, or make grandiose statements without substantiation. The word can function attributively as in blowhard politician or blowhard columnist, though it remains chiefly a label applied to the person.

Origins are uncertain, but blowhard appeared in American English in the 19th century. The component blow is linked to the sense of speaking boastfully or bragging, while hard suggests stubbornness or severity of the behavior. The expression shares semantic space with braggart, boaster, loudmouth, and windbag, though blowhard often implies more ostentation and performative self-importance.

In contemporary usage, blowhard characterizations are common in media commentary and political discourse, where critics portray opponents or public figures as talkers who prioritize rhetoric over substance. The term carries a negative evaluation and can be perceived as dismissive of a person’s sincerity rather than their actual competence.

Related terms include braggart, boaster, loudmouth, and windbag.