Pretentious talk is a type of speech that is intended to sound impressive but is actually empty and meaningless. CLAPTRAP, an 8-letter solution to the crossword, is a term used to describe this kind of talk, as it is often full of exaggerated or false claims. BOMBAST, another 7-letter solution, is a similar term that refers to language that is grandiose and pompous. Finally, GAS, a 3-letter solution, is a slang term for pretentious talk that is often used to describe someone who is trying to sound more important than they are.