Verbosity: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when referring to the use of too many words, often in a formal or written context.

• The professor's verbosity made the lecture hard to follow.

Refers generally to the use of too many words, applicable to both spoken and written language, often carrying a negative connotation.

• His essay was criticized for its wordiness.

Refers to someone who talks a lot, often in a lively and enthusiastic manner. Usually related to spoken language.

• Her loquacity made her a great conversationalist at parties.

Describes speech or writing that is excessively long and wordy. Often implies a tedious or boring quality.

• The novel's prolixity made it a difficult read.

Used when talking about speaking or writing in a roundabout way, often to avoid the point or be evasive, sometimes considered a negative quality.

• He used circumlocution to avoid answering the difficult question directly.

Used when someone is using more words than needed, often in writing or speech, and it may not necessarily be negative.

• The professor's verbosity made his lectures difficult to follow; She cut through the verbosity of the document to find the main point

Refers to the unnecessary repetition of information or words, often considered inefficient and negative.

• The report was full of redundancy and needed to be edited; Redundancy in writing makes it less engaging

Generally used to describe someone who takes a long time to make a point and can be slightly more negative.

• His long-windedness bored the audience; During the meeting, her long-windedness caused everyone to lose focus