prolix

pro·lix

adjective \prō-ˈliks, ˈprō-(ˌ)\

Definition of PROLIX

1

: unduly prolonged or drawn out : too long

2

: marked by or using an excess of words

— pro·lix·i·ty \prō-ˈlik-sə-tē\ noun

— pro·lix·ly adverb

Examples of PROLIX

1. The speech was unnecessarily prolix.
2. <a person known for habitually transforming brief anecdotes into prolix sagas that exhaust their listeners>

Origin of PROLIX

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French prolix, from Latin prolixus extended, from pro- forward + liquēre to be fluid — more at liquid

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to PROLIX

Synonyms

circuitous, circumlocutory, diffuse, garrulous, logorrheic, long-winded, pleonastic, wordy, rambling, verbose, windy

Antonyms

compact, concise, crisp, pithy, succinct, terse

Related Words

chatty, communicative, conversational, gabby, loquacious, talkative, talky, voluble; periphrastic; redundant, repetitious, tautological, tautologous; embellished, embroidered, exaggerated; bombastic, gaseous, gassy, grandiloquent, highfalutin (also hifalutin)

Near Antonyms

brief, short; aphoristic, epigrammatic, sententious; compendious, summary; abbreviated, abridged, condensed, shortened; abrupt, blunt, brusque (also brusk), curt, laconic, snippy

See Synonym Discussion at wordy

Rhymes with PROLIX

admix, affix, commix, deep-six, immix, infix, postfix, prefix, premix, prix fixe, quick fix, suffix, trail mix, transfix, unfix