high-flown
1
8.9
- adjective
- /haɪ floʊn/
- Despite the author's high-flown language, the main idea of the article remained clear and relatable.
- high-flown rhetoric
Examples
-
The first is a tragedy in which a high-flown character (Hector, Jesus, Hamlet), one who lives his life on a higher plane than we do, suffers and dies, even though he may win redemption of some kind.
Fiction book (2002) -
Despite high-flown language, it turns the experience of human lives into platitudes, homilies, and predetermined theorems.
Blog text (16) -
That's not to say that many people of humble place were rushing to read the more high flown products of the English Renaissance.
-
Judd must have been moved by Patrick's high-flown words.
Fiction book (1997) -
"I have to say that what I found high-flown and borderline ridiculous in Carlyle, they found powerful and inspiring.
Academic text (2011) -
Few of those at his victory rally Sunday expressed the high-flown rhetoric about democratic transition and reform that was popular when National Action won the 2000 and 2006 elections.
Blog text (17) -
For this candor, rather than our high-flown rhetoric or ambivalent social policies, we earn a respectful hearing.
Academic text (1998) -
In a recent issue of National Review, someone said that Obama would be damaged by the contradiction between his high-flown claims about the Arab Spring and the reality of the Benghazi attack.
Blog text (24) -
Judd was impressed by Patrick's high-flown speech that seemed too grand for the occasion.
-
The politician's high-flown promises did not resonate with the everyday concerns of the citizens.
Synonyms
67
7.3
Trying to seem more important or clever than you really are
42
5.1
Showing high moral ideas or aims that seem admirable and often not realistic
33
6.5
Being very bright and showy to attract attention
29
5.7
Exaggerated and showy in style or speech
26
7.5
Too big and showy in a way that tries to seem more important than it is
24
4.9
Looks bigger or more important than it really is
15
3.9
Made to seem bigger or more important than it really is
11
8.5
Using big, showy words that have little real meaning
11
7.7
To show off very expensive things to attract attention
6
9.3
Behaving or speaking in a fancy way to seem more important
3
8.7
Very fancy in a way that tries to impress people
1
8.2
Seeming important or impressive but lacking real meaning and honesty
1
9.9
Using long, difficult words in speech or writing
1
9.9
Using long, fancy words to sound important
1
9.9
Very fancy in a way that shows you think you are better than others
1
9.9
Speech or writing that uses very grand, showy language
1
8.2
Having goals or ideas that are too high and unrealistic
1
9.9
To use very big, showy words to sound important
Antonyms
How Elaborate
- Literature
1
9.9
1
8.9
8
5.3
- Literature
25
7.0
335
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
The word high-flown comes from the parts high ('up') and flown ('to fly'), like something that has 'flown up' into the air and is lifted above ordinary speech. That's why high-flown describes language or ideas that are very fancy or seem unrealistic.