pompous
English · Thesaurus
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pompous
- /ˈpɒmpəs/ UK
- /ˈpɑmpəs/ US
Where it comes from
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.
adjective more pompous · most pompous
-
Affectedly grand, solemn or self-important.
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.
Similar: conceited, smug, important, highfalutin, airy, arrogant, chesty, authoritarian, biggity, big-headed, blustery, turgescent · Opposite: humble, modest, self-effacing
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: pretentious, grandiloquent, overblown, portentous, pontifical, high-sounding, high-flown, bombastic, emphatic, high-minded, grand, grandiose, lofty, turgid, stodgy, important
Translations
Every language
adj affectedly grand
| Español | pomposo, rimbombante, campanudo, ampuloso |
|---|---|
| Português | pomposo |
| Français | pompeux, emphatique |
| Deutsch | pompös, schwülstig |
| Italiano | pomposo |
| Română | pompos |
| Русский | помпе́зный pompéznyj, напы́щенный napýščennyj, надутый nadutyj |
Talk about this word "pompous." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/pompous. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. pompous. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/pompous "pompous." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/pompous.Cite this
@misc{pompous_2026,
title = {pompous},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/pompous},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
