Sententious Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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sententious

[senˈten(t)SHəs ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

in speaking or writing

given to moralizing in a pompous or affected manner

Synonyms

moralistic, pontifical, preachy.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
sententious	Use this when describing speech or writing that is overly moralizing or that contains a lot of pompous, aphoristic statements. Her sententious speech was filled with clichés and obvious truths that left the audience unimpressed
moralistic	This word is appropriate when describing someone who is overly concerned with morality, often in a way that is judgmental or self-righteous. His moralistic attitude towards others made him few friends, as he was always quick to criticize their choices
preachy	This is best used in more informal contexts to describe someone who tends to give unwelcome advice or moral lessons in an irritating manner. I stopped reading the book because it became too preachy, constantly telling the reader what to think
pontifical	This term is often used to describe a manner of speaking that is self-important or authoritative, as if giving a religious sermon. The professor's pontifical lecture felt more like a sermon than a class discussion, leaving little room for debate

Examples of usage

She disliked his sententious pronouncements.
His sententious style irritated me.

^{Context #2 | Adjective}

literature

concise and full of meaning

Synonyms

concise, pithy, succinct.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
sententious	Used when someone is speaking in a way that sounds wise or moralistic but is often pompous or self-righteous. This word can have a negative connotation. His sententious comments during the meeting annoyed everyone. She delivered a sententious speech about the importance of honesty.
pithy	Ideal for describing language that is both brief and meaningful, often with a witty or clever element. His pithy remark made everyone laugh. The book is full of pithy sayings and proverbs.
concise	Best used when describing speech or writing that is brief and to the point without unnecessary detail. The instructions were clear and concise. Her report was concise but informative.
succinct	Used to describe speech or writing that is clearly and briefly expressed, with no wasted words. Similar to 'concise' but often with an implication of precision. She gave a succinct summary of the project's goals. His speech was succinct and to the point.

Examples of usage

The author's sententious prose captivated the readers.
The play was filled with sententious dialogues.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'sententious'

The word 'sententious' originated from the Latin word 'sententiosus', meaning full of meaning, significant. It first appeared in the English language in the early 17th century. Over time, the word evolved to have dual meanings, one negative related to pompous moralizing and the other positive related to concise expression of significant ideas.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,723 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

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