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to pontificate

to pontificate

13 8.7
To speak in a self-important way as if always right
  • verb
  • /pɒnˈtɪfɪkeɪt/
translation icon : pontificar
  • Instead of listening to others, she tends to pontificate on her views without considering other opinions.

So much talking, so much pontificating and sharing perspectives all over the place.

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Examples

  • If you indulge me for a second, allow me to pontificate.

  • We, as Americans, cannot pontificate and say that we were 'different' from the Japanese or the Germans.

    Blog text (23)
  • So we talk about it and we, you know, pontificate what can be done.

  • Let me pontificate upon your sorry state

  • Most of us have read or heard writers pontificate about how the author should know everything about his characters.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Let me dwell on this for some time and pontificate on a few things.

  • I mean, men, they pontificate and no one can get a word in edgewise.

  • Again, you do not understand fundamental economics well enough to be pontificating on the subject.

    Blog text (14)
  • I was in the kitchen and I heard a voice pontificating about predatory lending and how we have to put an end to it.

  • During the preceding week, politicians pontificated about it, celebrities sang about it, and pundits pondered its significance.

    Academic text (1990)

Synonyms

to preach
vsto pontificate
192 3.8

Talk to people to persuade them to support a cause

focuses more on claiming absolute correctness and a pompous tone
to sermonize
vsto pontificate
2 8.0

To give advice about right and wrong for a long time in a boring way

tends to state opinions as if always correct in a lecturing way
to preachify
vsto pontificate
  • Informal
1 8.6

To speak in a long, moral way that makes people feel judged

leans toward asserting rightness with a pompous dogmatic attitude
to dogmatize
vsto pontificate
9.5

To say your opinion is definitely right and not listen to other views

shows certainty but with a pompous self-important tone
to get on one's soapbox
vsto pontificate
  • Informal
8.1

Speak for a long time in a strong way about your opinions to others

is less about public performance and more about dogmatic certainty
to opinionize on
vsto pontificate
  • Informal
8.0

To express your personal views about a subject

is stronger implying one is certainly right and dismisses others

Antonyms

1.0

Pay attention to advice or warnings and act on them

87 4.2

Choose not to do something you want to do

How Pompous

to pontificate
13 8.7
to preach
192 3.8
to pronounce
  • Formal
148 3.5
to assert
229 3.9
to state
1.6
to say
1.0

Surface Forms

pontificate infinitive
pontificated past participle
pontificating present participle
pontificates third person singular

Etymology

A helpful way to remember pontificate in the sense 'to speak in a pompous or dogmatic way' is to think of a pope speaking with great authority. Because popes and high priests spoke in a very formal, solemn way, to pontificate came to mean talking as if you are always right.