noun (pɒnˈtɪfɪkɪt ) 3. Pontificate: 1 v administer a pontifical office Type of: administer , administrate work in an administrative capacity; supervise or be in charge of v talk in a dogmatic and pompous manner “The new professor always pontificates ” Type of: speak , talk exchange thoughts; talk with n the government of the Roman Catholic Church Synonyms: papacy. Synonyms for PONTIFICATE: rant, rave, declaim, harangue, orate, bloviate, mouth (off), fulminate, bluster, huff.