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altisonanti

high-sounding, bombastic

adjective ahl-tee-soh-NAHN-tee Rare

Usage Note

Altisonanti is the invariable plural form of altisonante (high-sounding), a compound of alto (high) + sonante (sounding). It is used ironically to describe language or titles that sound grand but have little substance — similar to 'high-flown' or 'pompous' in English. The singular is altisonante for both masculine and feminine.

Examples

"Usava parole altisonanti per nascondere la sua ignoranza."

Natural Translation

He used bombastic words to hide his ignorance.

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