Grandiloquence

Grandiloquence is a style of speaking or writing that is characterized by inflated, lofty, and often pompous language. It involves the use of elaborate, flowery expressions and rhetorical devices to impress or to make something seem more important or impressive than it really is. This can sometimes be seen as pretentious or insincere. The purpose is often to add perceived value to the subject matter to appeal to the audience’s sentiments by exaggeration, creating feelings of superiority and/or awe, and thus, controlling perception. It differs from eloquence, which is graceful and persuasive, while grandiloquence is self-aggrandizing and overblown. It can be found in political speeches, legal arguments, or even casual conversation. Ultimately, grandiloquence focuses on show, not substance.

Grandiloquence meaning with examples

• The politician's speech, brimming with grandiloquence, left the audience feeling dazzled, yet the promised policies lacked concrete detail. It was all sound and fury, signifying little substance. He used bombastic language, designed to sway emotions over logic. He delivered his speech in a very exaggerated style, leaving people wondering about the reality.
• The author's attempt at historical fiction suffered from excessive grandiloquence. Descriptions of the era's events were filled with convoluted sentences and overly descriptive vocabulary, distracting from the plot. Readers found the word choices overwrought. The book contained no real insight. Instead, the writer used excessive language to hide the lack of substance.
• During the closing arguments, the lawyer's grandiloquence became a major issue. The prosecution used long and complex phrases to attempt to convince the jury of the defendant's guilt, even when the facts pointed elsewhere. The tactic, meant to sway the jury, ultimately backfired. The lawyer needed to be more clear, but relied heavily on the style of rhetoric.
• The marketing campaign employed such grandiloquence about the new product that the launch was destined to fail when the product could not live up to the hype. Claims of its 'revolutionary' and 'transformative' qualities turned out to be overblown, disappointing the customers. The inflated descriptions only highlighted the product's shortcomings.
• While praising his colleague's performance, the CEO fell into grandiloquence, using hyperbolic language about his skills. While his intentions may have been to make the employee feel good, he came across as insincere. The praise felt forced, making the recipient uncomfortable. The overly flattering descriptions lacked genuine conviction.