Wordy: meaning, definitions and examples

This word is often used to describe someone who uses more words than necessary. It can be slightly negative if the excess verbiage is seen as unnecessary.

• Her email was too wordy; it could have been half the length.
• The professor's wordy lecture left the students confused.

This term is used when speech or writing contains more words than necessary and is often overly complex. It is negative.

• The report was so verbose that it was difficult to extract the key information.
• He tends to be verbose, often complicating simple ideas.

This is typically used to describe someone who takes a long time to get to the point. It has a moderately negative connotation, suggesting that the speech or writing is tiresome.

• The politician's speech was so long-winded that people started to leave early.
• He has a tendency to be long-winded, which can make meetings drag on.

This word describes speech or writing that lacks focus or organization, often wandering from one subject to another. It has a negative connotation.

• His rambling speech left the audience unsure of his main point.
• She started with a rambling story that had nothing to do with the topic at hand.

This word is more formal and is used in academic or literary contexts to describe text that is tediously lengthy. It is generally negative.

• The scholar's prolix treatise on history was criticized for its excessive length.
• Her writing style tends to be prolix, making it difficult to follow.