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high-flown

A person is considered high-flown if he tries to sound smarter or fancier than he really is.

The adjective high-flown particularly comes in handy when you're describing overblown, pretentious writing. You can also describe overly lofty plans as high-flown: "The six year-old's intention to build a tree house with wall-to-wall carpeting, electric lights, and plumbing seemed a little high-flown to me."

Definitions of high-flown
  1. adjective
    pretentious (especially with regard to language or ideals)
    high-flown talk of preserving the moral tone of the school”
    synonyms: high-sounding, inflated
    pretentious
    making claim to or creating an appearance of (often undeserved) importance or distinction
  2. adjective
    of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style
    “"argue in terms of high-flown ideals"- Oliver Franks”
    synonyms: elevated, exalted, grand, high-minded, idealistic, lofty, noble-minded, rarefied, rarified, sublime
    noble
    having or showing or indicative of high or elevated character
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘high-flown'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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