sententious

sen·ten·tious

adj \sen-ˈten(t)-shəs\

Definition of SENTENTIOUS

1

a : given to or abounding in aphoristic expression b : given to or abounding in excessive moralizing

2

: terse, aphoristic, or moralistic in expression : pithy, epigrammatic

— sen·ten·tious·ly adverb

— sen·ten·tious·ness noun

Examples of SENTENTIOUS

1. a smug and sententious writer
2. <a sententious crank who has written countless letters to the editor about the decline in family values>

Origin of SENTENTIOUS

Middle English, full of meaning, from Latin sententiosus, from sententia sentence, maxim

First Known Use: 1509

Related to SENTENTIOUS

Synonyms: didactic, homiletic (or homiletical), moralistic, moralizing, preachy, sermonic

Antonyms: circuitous, circumlocutory, diffuse, long-winded, prolix, rambling, verbose, windy, wordy

Related Words: dogmatic (also dogmatical), prescriptive; admonishing, admonitory, cautionary; advisory, enlightening, instructive; holier-than-thou, self-righteous

Near Antonyms: pleonastic, redundant, repetitious, tautological, tautologous; enlarged, expanded, supplemented; embellished, embroidered, exaggerated, inflated

see all synonyms and antonyms

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