claptraps
Pretentious empty talk
Claptraps is the plural of claptrap, which refers to pretentious, insincere, or nonsensical talk designed to win applause or approval.
The word suggests showy language that sounds impressive but lacks substance.
The politician's speech was full of claptraps about family values.
It can also refer more broadly to any cheap, showy devices or gimmicks meant to attract attention.
Senseless talk or writing
- hogwashFoolish or untrue talk
- poppycockFoolish or meaningless talk
- twaddleTrivial, foolish talk
- drivelSenseless, silly talk
malarkey · bunkum · hokum · tommyrot · baloney · codswallop · flapdoodle · piffle
Affectedly grand in manner
- grandiosePretentiously impressive in scale
- pretentiousFalsely grand or important
- highfalutinAffectedly superior or fancy
- inflatedExpanded with gas
turgid · florid · ostentatious · orotund · lofty · braggadocio · bluster · fustian
Incoherent speech
- blatherFoolish, pointless chatter
- chatterLight, rapid speech
- jabberTalk rapidly, incoherently
- prattleTrivial, prolonged speech
ramble · yammer · yap · yackety-yak · waffle · rattle · gabble · patter
Fraudulent imitation
- charlatanryFraudulent claim to skill
- quackeryFraudulent medical practice
- flimflamDeceptive scheme or nonsense
- humbugFalse talk or pretense
snake oil · mountebank · fakery · imposture · hucksterism · con · fraud · blarney
Excessive use of language
- long-windednessTedious verbal excess
- prolixityTedious lengthiness in speech
- circumlocutionIndirect, wordy expression
- redundancyNeedless duplication
rambling · windiness · padding · verbiage · garrulousness · diffuseness · discursiveness
balderdash
Senseless talk or writing
drivel · malarkey · bunkum · hokum · tommyrot · baloney · codswallop · flapdoodle · piffle · moonshine
pompous
Affectedly grand in manner
- grandiosePretentiously impressive in scale
- pretentiousFalsely grand or important
- highfalutinAffectedly superior or fancy
inflated · turgid · florid · ostentatious · orotund · lofty · braggadocio · bluster · fustian · grandiloquent
babble
Incoherent speech
prattle · ramble · yammer · yap · yackety-yak · waffle · rattle · gabble · patter · nattering
sham
Fraudulent imitation
- charlatanryFraudulent claim to skill
- quackeryFraudulent medical practice
- flimflamDeceptive scheme or nonsense
humbug · snake oil · mountebank · fakery · imposture · hucksterism · con · fraud · blarney · duplicity
wordiness
Excessive use of language
- long-windednessTedious verbal excess
- prolixityTedious lengthiness in speech
- circumlocutionIndirect, wordy expression
redundancy · rambling · windiness · padding · verbiage · garrulousness · diffuseness · discursiveness
claptrapstruths
Accurate statements about reality
facts · straight talk · substance · unvarnished truth · authenticity
claptrapswisdom
Good judgment from experience
profundity · scholarship · erudition · enlightenment · revelation