grandiloquent

Grandiloquent is an adjective used to describe speech or writing that is extravagantly elaborate, pompous, or bombastic in style. It often signals an intent to impress through flourish rather than clarity.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin grandiloquus, from grandis “great” and loqui “to speak,” and entered English via French grandiloquent or Italian forms in the early modern period. The form grandiloquent literally suggests “great-sounding” speech.

Usage: In criticism, grandiloquent prose or oratory is typically viewed as overly self-important and can obscure meaning. It is common in discussions of rhetoric, poetry, or public speaking. While some contexts may employ grandiloquence self-consciously as a stylistic choice, it is often contrasted with plain or concise language.

Examples: The historian criticized the speaker’s grandiloquent remarks as diluting the argument. The novel’s grandiloquent passages aim to evoke a ceremonial atmosphere but risk alienating readers seeking clarity.

See also: bombastic, pompous, grandiose, high-flown, florid, ornate, rhetoric.