Summary2 min read

Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: "Bloviate" (November 21, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this episode of Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day, host Peter Sokolowski explores the word "bloviate"—delving into its meaning, historical usage, and etymology. The concise segment provides listeners with both the definition and an interesting backstory about the word's association with President Warren G. Harding.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Definition and Usage

Definition:
"Bloviate" is a verb meaning "to speak or write in an arrogant tone and with more words than are necessary."
[00:42]
Contemporary Usage Example:
Quoting from Kristi Puchko for mashable.com:

"While other characters bloviate about their lives, Barbara is a much more internal character, her quietness making her seem all the more an outsider in her hometown." — [00:52]

2. Historical Context

Warren G. Harding’s Connection:
The word is frequently associated with the 29th U.S. president, Warren G. Harding (1921–1923). Sokolowski notes:

"Warren G. Harding is often linked to the word bloviate, but to him it isn't insulting. It simply meant to spend time idly. Harding used the word often in that hanging around sense, but during his tenure… he became associated with the verbose sense of bloviate, as his speeches tended to be on the long winded side." — [01:07–01:35]
Harding’s Relationship with the Term:
While sometimes credited with inventing the word, it is more likely Harding adopted it from Ohioan slang during his youth in the late 1800s.
— [01:36]

3. Etymology

The term likely combines "blow" (as in hot air or speaking at length) with the Latin-derived suffix "-ate". — [01:49]

Notable Quotes

On the Modern Sense of "Bloviate":

"To bloviate is to speak or write in an arrogant tone and with more words than are necessary." — Peter Sokolowski [00:44]
On Harding’s Usage:

"To him it isn't insulting. It simply meant to spend time idly." — Peter Sokolowski [01:13]

Timestamps for Important Segments

[00:42] — Introduction of "bloviate," spelling, and definition
[00:52] — Example sentence in context
[01:07] — Harding’s historical use and association
[01:49] — Etymological explanation
[02:08] — Sign-off to visit merriamwebster.com

Episode Tone & Style

The episode is educational and direct, characteristic of Peter Sokolowski’s approachable and clear delivery. The tone is inviting and concise, making the word and its story accessible and memorable for a broad audience.

Summary

This brief episode not only defines "bloviate" but enriches listeners with its lively etymology and a historical anecdote involving President Harding. The combination of linguistic facts and cultural tidbits makes the word memorable and encourages listeners to notice (and perhaps avoid) bloviation in daily life.

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Transcript4 lines

[00:07]
A
It's the word of the day for November 21st.
[00:12]
B
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[00:42]
A
Today's word is bloviate. Spelled B L O V I A T E. Bloviate is a verb. To bloviate is to speak or write in an arrogant tone and with more words than are necessary. Here's the word used in a sentence from mashable.com by Kristi Puchko. While other characters bloviate about their lives, Barbara is a much more internal character, her quietness making her seem all the more an outsider in her hometown. Warren G. Harding is often linked to the word bloviate, but to him it isn't insulting. It simply meant to spend time idly. Harding used the word often in that hanging around sense, but during his tenure as the 29th U.S. president from 1921 to 1923, he became associated with the verbose sense of bloviate, as his speeches tended to be on the long winded side. Although he is sometimes credited with having coined the word, it's more likely that Harding picked it up from local slang while hanging around with his boyhood buddies in Ohio in the late 1800s. The term likely comes from a combination of the word blow plus the suffix ate. With your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski.
[02:08]
B
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