The word sophist/sophistry came to mind but after googling to make sure I’m not fully certain it matches up 100%, given that it’s more about fallacious arguments than the “weaponized eloquence” by someone who is wrong or lacks the depth his words suggest. Just wanted to confirm that there’s no better word for this!
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Compare english.stackexchange.com/questions/319790/… english.stackexchange.com/questions/314025/…– Stuart FCommented Sep 6, 2023 at 5:02
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Since you've tagged this as a single word request, you should include a sample sentence demonstrating how the word would be used.– KillingTimeCommented Sep 6, 2023 at 6:15
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3How about glib?– Kate BuntingCommented Sep 6, 2023 at 8:05
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3 Answers
Pretentious can fit as in M-W it defined as making usually unjustified or excessive claims (as of value or standing).
Dressed in a ball gown, she made an overly pretentious appearance at the simple high school dance [YourDectionary].
َAnother suggestion is glib-tongued as someone who intended or having the power to induce action or belief (but I could not find any example that glib-tonguedness roots in being superficial but I found in real life that such persons are more prone to be shallow!).
Also, however not a single word, empty as a drum, can work to refer to the situation introduced in the OP.
An adjective used to describe eloquent, fluent but facile, insincere, shallow, or hollow speech is glib. That's the first word that came to mind, and I see Kate Bunting thinks the same.
According to Collins,
If you describe someone as bombastic, you are criticizing him for trying to impress other people by saying things that sound impressive but have little meaning.
It often relates to a pompous or grandiloquent manner of speaking, sometimes used by smooth talkers.
