verbose
Say it: vur-BOHSS /vɝˈboʊs/ · adjective
What “verbose” means
Using more words than you need.
More precisely: Using more words than needed.
Example: “His emails are so verbose that nobody reads past the first paragraph.”
When to use it
In mildly critical feedback about speaking or writing, when a simple message takes far too long to get across.
Memory trick
Latin verbum means word. Picture words spilling out long after the point is made.
Similar words
wordy, long-winded, rambling
Where it comes from
From Latin verbum, "word."
Quick check
A recipe spends three paragraphs telling you to stir the soup once. What word describes those instructions?
verbose or thorough?
Show the answer
verbose
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