What does pompous mean?
Word: Pompous
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Pompous means speaking or behaving as if you are much more important, clever or grand than other people.
Synonyms: self-important, arrogant, haughty
Antonyms: modest, humble
How do you spell pompous?
Syllables: pom - pous
Tricky part: The ending is ous, as in famous, with an o before the u. Students who spell by sound often write pompus or pompas.
Watch out for: pompus, pompas, pompouse
Memory tip: Pompous people like to seem famous, and the two words end the same way, so keep the o before the u.
Pompous in a sentence
Example 1: The pompous shopkeeper kept reminding everyone that he had once met a film star.
Example 2: Dadi laughed at the pompous letter that the society secretary had sent.
Example 3: Try not to sound pompous when you explain your science project to the juniors.
Fun Fact
When pompous came into English from French about 600 years ago, it meant splendid and grand; the unkind sense of acting self-important came later.
Practise the CREST Way
Jumble Tumble
Choose the correct sequence of the jumbled letters to form a meaningful word:
mupsoop 1234567
a) 3517624
b) 5317624
c) 3517642
d) 3157624
Show answer
a) 3517624. Only this order puts both p's, both o's and the m in their places, with the s at the very end.
Word Puzzle
Match each word with the word closest in meaning:
1. pompous 2. courteous 3. boisterous a. rowdy b. pretentious c. polite
a) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
b) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
c) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
d) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
Show answer
d) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a. Courteous people are polite, boisterous ones are rowdy, and a pompous speaker is pretentious, full of show.
Word Tally
How many words are misspelt in the given sentence?
The pompous visiter gave a long speech about his own achievments and did not let anyone else speak.
a) 0
b) 1
c) 3
d) 2
Show answer
d) 2. Visitor ends in or and achievements keeps the e of achieve; pompous needs no change.
Spellacadabra
Choose the correct option to make a meaningful word:
po__ous
a) pp
b) mb
c) mp
d) np
Show answer
c) mp. The m comes before the p here, the same pair you hear in pump and lamp.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these is the most pompous thing to say?
a) I am sorry that I kept you all waiting so long.
b) I am far too important to queue with ordinary people.
c) Could you please help me carry these books upstairs?
d) Let us share the snacks equally among everyone here.
Show answer
b) I am far too important to queue with ordinary people.
2. A pompous speech is usually full of ___.
a) boasting and grand words
b) jokes and funny stories
c) short, simple sentences
d) facts and careful figures
Show answer
a) boasting and grand words
