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blowhard

blowhard

22 8.2
A person who talks too much and brags about themselves
  • noun
  • /ˈbloʊˌhɑrd/
  • Offensive
translation icon : fanfarrón
  • During the meeting, she acted like a blowhard, bragging about her accomplishments at every turn.
  • a pompous blowhard
  • a big blowhard
  • an arrogant blowhard

And he turns around and says, do you have a blowhard in the bar?

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Examples

  • My reaction indicates that you are a pompous blowhard.

  • The blowhard husband, the stoic wife with the repressed rage.

  • No class, just another blowhard with nothing to say and nothing to offer.

    Blog text (12)
  • Why are you always such a blowhard?

  • How much evidence needs to be presented before this blowhard is exposed for what he is?

    Blog text (13)
  • I can vouch for that, he was a total blowhard.

  • My problem is I say what I mean, unlike most of the blowhards here.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Most of those blowhards can't shut up about work.

  • The fact that the media and other blowhards make this all about Penn State is disgraceful.

    Blog text (17)
  • There are also shameless blowhards who think they know things that they actually don't.

    Blog text (21)

Synonyms

braggart
vsblowhard
  • Offensive
4 7.7

A person who talks a lot about themselves to show off

is similar but covers general excessive talking without strong loudness
popinjay
vsblowhard
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A vain, talkative person who likes to show off

is about proud talk without stressing vanity or flashy behaviour
bragger
vsblowhard
  • Offensive
1 4.9

A person who talks proudly about their success or things they own

is the broader label for anyone who speaks excessively with pride
boaster
vsblowhard
1 4.4

A person who talks too proudly about their successes or things they own

is used more widely for general excessive proud speech than that focus
triumphalist
vsblowhard
1 8.3

A person who shows too much pride after a win and annoys others

is used more widely for general proud talk, not only victory claims
vaunter
vsblowhard
  • Archaic
9.3

A person who often brags about what they have done in a proud way

is used for someone who speaks proudly about anything, not just achievements
line-shooter
vsblowhard
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who brags a lot and tells stories that are not true

is similar but not necessarily exaggerating facts or making big claims
Gascon
vsblowhard
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who boasts in a loud, proud way

is more general, not focused on ostentatious walk or manner
blusterer
vsblowhard
9.0

A person who speaks loudly and brags, often saying things they should not

is centered on proud talk without implying recklessness or trouble
trumper
vsblowhard
  • Archaic
9.6

A person who brags loudly to get attention

is broader, applying to any excessive proud speech, not only showy claims
swaggerer
vsblowhard
7.9

A person who walks and acts very confidently, often bragging

is focused specifically on proud speech rather than physical manner

Antonyms

222 2.8

Not proud and not thinking you are better than others

81 2.7

Not thinking you are better than others and not boasting

How Boastful

blowhard
  • Offensive
22 8.2
boaster
1 4.4
show-off
  • Offensive
12 4.8

Surface Forms

blowhard singular
blowhards plural

Morphology

blowhard = blow + hard (semi-transparent) = blow + hard

The components 'blow' and 'hard' are visible, but the figurative sense 'braggart' is a metaphorical extension rather than a direct, fully predictable compositional meaning for learners.

Etymology

Blowhard comes from the parts blow ('to puff or speak loudly') and hard ('strong' or 'a lot'). Think of someone who 'blows' loudly and is full of 'hot air', which is why a blowhard is a person who brags and talks too much.