1
as in rhetoric
boastful speech or writing
his taking credit for the rescue was mostly hot air, since the boat was actually saved by the Coast Guard
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in wind
language that is impressive-sounding but not meaningful or sincere
her campaign promise to "fight for the people" showed a taste for stale hot air
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hot air
Several people were seriously hurt in a hot air balloon crash in southern Nevada, authorities said.
—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
19 June 2026
News reports indicate that the Jeep’s fan was on high but the air conditioning was not working, indicating that the fan might have been blowing hot air.
—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
19 June 2026
Before summer arrives, walk through your home to look for any openings that could be letting hot air in and cold air out as this could cause also your air conditioning unit to work on overdrive to makeup for the air that's lost.
—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Plus, where to take a hot air balloon ride.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot air
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
19 June 2026
News reports indicate that the Jeep’s fan was on high but the air conditioning was not working, indicating that the fan might have been blowing hot air.
—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
19 June 2026
Before summer arrives, walk through your home to look for any openings that could be letting hot air in and cold air out as this could cause also your air conditioning unit to work on overdrive to makeup for the air that's lost.
—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Plus, where to take a hot air balloon ride.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot air
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hot air
Noun
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For too long Western leaders have been deterred by Putin’s escalation rhetoric.
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Concha argued that her positions and rhetoric reflect a broader shift in the Democratic Party toward socialism and extremism.
Noun
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His early career was marked by the sort of gasconade many fans of the NFL had come to adore and many MLB executives and players had come to loathe.
Noun
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But not even Footer’s thorough sleuthing has unearthed much more than Bradley’s brag.
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Humble brag; That turned out to be a stroke of genius on my part.
Noun
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In the last year or two, there was chatter and debate whether Messi would actually be selected to join the national team again.
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If circumstances had gone Spain’s way with more clinical finishing or a Cape Verde defender making a mistake, then the result would have been different and a lot of the chatter currently happening (including here) would likely not be happening.
Noun
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Hammy magniloquence risks alienating viewers, not just for an evening but for life, as does obscurity.
Noun
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Through blood-curdling howls and rants about fascism, fraud, and fighting to understand your identity, Truck Violence push through ugliness to find something more unaltered and real.
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But then the singer continued her rant into the late night.
Cite this Entry
“Hot air.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hot%20air. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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