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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hot air
Every morning during the nine-day Canberra Balloon Spectacular (which starts March 15), the dawn skies will be filled with up to 50 hot air balloons, in a raft of shapes and colors—think T-Rex, Yoda from Star Wars, or a bagpiper.
—
Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 23 Dec. 2024
Instead of coming to Chicago to meet Cher and open the new store, Richard was going to Morocco to fly above the desert in a hot air balloon.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 16 Dec. 2024
The easiest way to do this is to take a thin layer of a shell and fill it with a very light gas like helium (hydrogen and hot air also work).
—Rhett Allain, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2024
Activities include a hot air balloon ride over the stunning vineyards of Champagne or guided tours of the renowned Champagne cellars.
—Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hot air 
Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 23 Dec. 2024
Instead of coming to Chicago to meet Cher and open the new store, Richard was going to Morocco to fly above the desert in a hot air balloon.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 16 Dec. 2024
The easiest way to do this is to take a thin layer of a shell and fill it with a very light gas like helium (hydrogen and hot air also work).
—Rhett Allain, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2024
Activities include a hot air balloon ride over the stunning vineyards of Champagne or guided tours of the renowned Champagne cellars.
—Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hot air
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hot air
Noun
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The rhetoric echoed his previous justification for the pullout: that the agreement imposed unfair economic burdens on the U.S. while allowing other countries, like China, to continue polluting.—
Nik Popli,
TIME,
22 Jan. 2025
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Fourteen years after their initial passage, the record is clear: contrary to the rhetoric, New York’s sanctuary laws have proven to be potent crime fighting tools.—
Peter L. Markowitz,
New York Daily News,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The humble brag is a new shiny toy for some people.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
5 Dec. 2024
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The brag quickly caught the attention of Swift fans across social media, who rushed to attack Spector while defending Swift.—
Jackson Thompson,
Fox News,
19 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Now, weeks after some of the Hollywood trades reported Chris Evans would be making his Marvel return in that event film, the actor himself denies the chatter.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
30 Jan. 2025
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Now, chatter should only pick up as the team figures out its long-term direction heading into what will be — as usual — an important offseason for a franchise that’s closing in on being mathematically eliminated from playoff contention for a ninth straight season.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Apologies for the rant all, but just annoyed at this again.—
Sam Lee,
The Athletic,
25 Jan. 2025
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Hurley’s rant about officiating dominated his 15-minute postgame press conference, a venting session after an intense game, which was made closer as Butler shot 15 free throws to UConn’s six in the second half.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Additionally, Trump declared a national energy emergency to boost domestic oil and gas production and end the electric vehicle mandate.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
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The order withdraws the entire shelf for new or renewed offshore wind leasing, but does not affect either existing leases or leases in the continental shelf for oil and gas development.—
Zack Budryk,
The Hill,
21 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Hot air.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hot%20air. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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