pompous
adj.behaving in a way that shows you think you are much more important or serious than you really are. It describes someone who uses long words or a grand style to impress others.
adj.characterised by an exaggerated display of self-importance, dignity, or seriousness. Often describes speech or behaviour that is overly formal or grand in an attempt to appear superior.
“He gave a pompous speech about his own success.”
“The professor's pompous attitude made it difficult for students to ask simple questions without feeling judged.”
“The critic dismissed the novel as a pompous attempt at high literature, noting that its dense prose served only to mask a lack of original thought.”
Typically used to describe people, their speech, or their writing style; often follows linking verbs like 'sound' or 'seem'.
From Middle English pompous, from Old French pompeux, pompos, from Late Latin pomposus, from Latin pompa (“pomp”), from Ancient Greek πομπή (pompḗ, “a sending, a solemn procession, pomp”), from πέμπω (pémpō, “I send”), equivalent to pomp + -ous. Doublet of pomposo.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.