prating
Speaking without substance
Prating is idle, foolish, or excessive talk—chatter without substance.
The verb prate means to talk at length about trivial matters: He prated on about his golf game while everyone waited to leave.
The word carries disapproval, suggesting the speaker is tedious or self-important.
Now somewhat old-fashioned.
Incoherent speech
- blatherFoolish, pointless chatter
- jabberTalk rapidly, incoherently
- gabbleRapid, muddled talk
- natterLight, aimless conversation
yak · tattle · tittle-tattle · gossip · chitchat · small talk · idle talk · chatty
Senseless, silly talk
- twaddleTrivial, foolish talk
- gibberishUnintelligible speech or writing
- balderdashSenseless talk or writing
- rubbishWaste or nonsense
hogwash · bunkum · piffle · claptrap · hot air · foolishness · inanity · silliness
Long-winded and unfocused
- long-windedExcessively wordy, tediously so
- verboseMore words than necessary
- wordyUsing more language than necessary
- prolixExcessively wordy in speech
drone · monotonous · tiresome · wearisome · boring · dull · windbag · gasbag
Exaggerating one's own significance
- boastfulGiven to self-praise
- braggingExcessive self-praise
- pontificatingSpeaking pompously at length
- grandiloquentPretentiously elevated in speech
bombastic · pretentious · affected · haughty · conceited · vainglorious · opinionated · puffed-up
babble
Incoherent speech
natter · yak · tattle · tittle-tattle · gossip · chitchat · small talk · idle talk · chatty · talkative
drivel
Senseless, silly talk
- twaddleTrivial, foolish talk
- gibberishUnintelligible speech or writing
- balderdashSenseless talk or writing
rubbish · hogwash · bunkum · piffle · claptrap · hot air · foolishness · inanity · silliness · empty words
rambling
Long-winded and unfocused
- long-windedExcessively wordy, tediously so
- verboseMore words than necessary
- wordyUsing more language than necessary
prolix · drone · monotonous · tiresome · wearisome · boring · dull · windbag · gasbag · maunder
self-important
Exaggerating one's own significance
- boastfulGiven to self-praise
- braggingExcessive self-praise
- pontificatingSpeaking pompously at length
grandiloquent · bombastic · pretentious · affected · haughty · conceited · vainglorious · opinionated · puffed-up · overbearing
- nonsense talkjabbering, prattling, blathering, gibberish, drivel