sententious
sen·ten·tious
adjective \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
- a smug and sententious writer
- <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
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