Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective wordy differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of wordy are diffuse, prolix, and verbose. While all these words mean "using more words than necessary to express thought," wordy may also imply loquaciousness or garrulity.

a wordy speech

When would diffuse be a good substitute for wordy?

The synonyms diffuse and wordy are sometimes interchangeable, but diffuse stresses lack of compactness and pointedness of style.

diffuse memoirs that are so many shaggy-dog stories

When is it sensible to use prolix instead of wordy?

The words prolix and wordy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, prolix suggests unreasonable and tedious dwelling on details.

habitually transformed brief anecdotes into prolix sagas

When can verbose be used instead of wordy?

While in some cases nearly identical to wordy, verbose suggests a resulting dullness, obscurity, or lack of incisiveness or precision.

the verbose position papers

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wordy Using the Concise function on highlighted text to boil it down strips out too much personality, while the Friendly function gets too wordy and often misses the sentence's or paragraph's original point. PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024 This is a talky chamber piece of philosophical face-offs, debate duels and wordy warfare, though the outcomes remain just as harrowing. Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 7 Nov. 2024 Airing on October 6, the 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris included a question on the Middle East to which Harris initially gave a meandering, wordy answer. Alena Botros, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2024 In the clip, Harris gave a wordy answer when Whitaker confronted her about Netanyahu seeming to not listen to the U.S. about how to handle conflict in the Middle East. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wordy 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wordy
Adjective
  • In the early morning hours of Dec. 26, 1996, Patsy Ramsey called 911 to report her 6-year-old daughter JonBenét missing, and found a rambling ransom note left inside their Boulder, Colorado, home.
    Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2024
  • His statement came a day after the release of the Netflix series, which takes viewers back to the morning after Christmas 28 years ago, when JonBenét’s mother called 911 to report finding a rambling ransom note and her daughter missing.
    Elizabeth Chuck, NBC News, 3 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Claypool has missed the last five practices, and even while on the sideline during Monday’s practice, his talkative nature with some of the defenders did not go over well with the other side of the ball.
    Joe Buscaglia, The Athletic, 5 Aug. 2024
  • In 2001's Bridget Jones's Diary, what starts as a not-so-meet-cute between the talkative Bridget (Renée Zellweger) and the offensive Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) at a New Year's Eve party unfolds into one of the most swoon-worthy rom-coms the genre has to offer.
    Skyler Caruso, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • For leaders aiming to inspire trust and clarity, neuroscience offers practical insights into why these verbal tics matter and how to reduce them.
    Scott Hutcheson, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
  • East Haven Public Safety Dispatch alerted officers that the caller reported being threatened by a man who allegedly pointed a rifle at him from a condominium window during a verbal altercation, according to Murgo.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Words, including those of artists themselves—as prolix in their way as critics, curators, and historians—can serve vision but can also deflect from it.
    Barry Schwabsky, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019
  • In 1949, a young American artist named Ray Johnson left Black Mountain College near Asheville, N.C., moved to New York City and began to explore his prolix talents, both visual and verbal.
    Roberta Smith, New York Times, 30 May 2024
Adjective
  • The actor takes particular pride in maintaining linguistic authenticity across his bilingual career.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Jan. 2025
  • It’s gone on quite a linguistic journey over the centuries.
    Erik Kain, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • For Teams: Normalize setting boundaries while remaining communicative.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
  • Its hydraulic steering was extremely communicative, responsive, and busy, relaying every crease in the tarmac at all times — to the point of requiring a firm grip and faster than average hands — just the way any driving aficionado desires.
    Peter Nelson, The Verge, 23 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near wordy

Cite this Entry

“Wordy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wordy. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on wordy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!