What is a word for someone or something that superficially seems to have a lot of substance/character but is actually shallow/empty? I can't help but think I've heard a word like this before. "Glib" comes close but seems to speak more to words rather than character.
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"Empty suit" is used in some contexts.– Hot LicksApr 15, 2016 at 23:27
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braggadocio or maybe braggart– TsSkToApr 16, 2016 at 1:25
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3 Answers
There's also phony in the sense of: 5. an insincere or affected person.
You might also use a number of the synonyms listed under 2. One who fakes: in the thesaurus section of the same definition.
A colorful phrase for such a person, in U.S. English, is "all hat and no cattle." The literal reference is someone who dresses and maybe acts like a cowboy (with a fancy ten-gallon hat, for example), but knows nothing about ranching, and is used more generally to describe someone who is all show and no substance.
If you're looking for a single word, here are a couple of options:
- pretentious. Claiming that or behaving as if one is important or deserving of merit when such is not the case.
- poseur (or poser). One who affects a particular attribute, attitude, or identity to impress or influence others.
Perhaps a proverb rather than a word will do.
empty vessels make most noise (or sound)
Those with least wisdom or knowledge are always the most talkative. — ODD
Essentially this proverb is the antoymn of Still waters run deep.
