pompous en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈpɑmpəs/ (General-American)
- /ˈpɒmpəs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
From Middle English pompous, from Old French pompeux, pompos, from Late Latin pomposus, from Latin pompa (“pomp”), from Ancient Greek πομπή (pompḗ, “a sending, a solemn procession, pomp”), from πέμπω (pémpō, “to send”), equivalent to pomp + -ous. Doublet of pomposo.
Meanings
-
Affectedly grand, solemn or self-important.
Not that the parting speech caused Amelia to philosophise, or that it armed her in any way with a calmness, the result of argument; but it was intolerably dull, pompous, and tedious; and having the fear of her schoolmistress greatly before her eyes, Miss Samuel did not venture, in her presence, to give way to any ebullitions of private grief.
But man is a Noble Animal, splendid in ashes, and pompous in the grave, solemnizing Nativities and Deaths with equal lustre, nor omitting Ceremonies of bravery, in the infamy of his nature.
1658, Sir Thomas Browne, Hydriotaphia, Urn Burial:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most pompous | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more pompous | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Antonyms
self-effacing · humble · modest
Deriveds
Relateds
pomposity · pompously · pomp · pompousness
Synonyms
tumid · upstage · egotistical · snotty · full of oneself · ostentatious · pretentious · smug · high-hat · bombastic · self-important · thrasonical · stout · blustery · supercilious · uppity · toplofty · high-handed · grandiose · conceited · insolent · overbearing · lordly · turgid · puffed up · hoity-toity · toploftical · thrasonic · haught · presumptuous · buggish · entitled · arrogant · haughty · overweening · chesty · snooty · vain · sanctimonious · biggity · hubristical · holier-than-thou · hankty · haut · la-di-da · highfalutin · uppy · flatulent · highfalutin · airy · hubristic · boastful · priggish · snobbish · orgulous · imperious · pompous · important · high and mighty · cocky · authoritarian · flaunting · big-headed · domineering · glorious · inflated · disdainful · conceited · stuck up · turgescent · uppish
Translations (42)
mk по́мпезен (affectedly grand) · de schwülstig (affectedly grand) · ru помпе́зный (affectedly grand) · ca pompós (affectedly grand) · gl pomposo (affectedly grand) · es campanudo (affectedly grand) · it pomposo (affectedly grand) · mi whakakake (affectedly grand) · ga mórchúiseach (affectedly grand) · fi suurellinen (affectedly grand) · nb pompøs (affectedly grand) · sv pompös (affectedly grand) · mk високо́парен (affectedly grand) · ru напы́щенный (affectedly grand) · es pomposo (affectedly grand) · hu fellengzős (affectedly grand) · ru надутый (affectedly grand) · fa پرشکوه (affectedly grand) · da højrøvet (affectedly grand) · lt pasipūtęs (affectedly grand) · fr pompeux (affectedly grand) · es ampuloso (affectedly grand) · lt pompastiškas (affectedly grand) · bg надут (affectedly grand) · pt pomposo (affectedly grand) · es rimbombante (affectedly grand) · mk на́дуен (affectedly grand) · eo pompa (affectedly grand) · fi mahtipontinen (affectedly grand) · nn pompøs (affectedly grand) · fr emphatique (affectedly grand) · nn høgttråvande (affectedly grand) · da pompøs (affectedly grand) · nb høyttravende (affectedly grand) · de pompös (affectedly grand) · grc σοβαρός (affectedly grand) · bg важен (affectedly grand) · nl pompeus (affectedly grand) · mi whakaī (affectedly grand) · ka პომპეზური (affectedly grand) · cs pompézní (affectedly grand) · ro pompos (affectedly grand)