as in rambling
using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea
a person known for habitually transforming brief anecdotes into prolix sagas that exhaust their listeners
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Recent Examples of prolix
Even the blandest overtures can whip him into a frantic, pornographic, prolix ecstasy.
—
Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2026
Ronald, who with his shock of white hair and prolix tendencies comes off like a frazzled professor, keeps to a more limited circuit writing out of his house and his office.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2026
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
His answer is this book: a laudably sincere, exasperatingly prolix and occasionally affecting rumination on the state of Egypt—its society, culture, history and politics—pegged to the maddening bureaucracy of the archive.
—Kapil Komireddi, WSJ, 12 Mar. 2023
A certain type of actor thrives in these prolix circumstances.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2021
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
Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2026
Ronald, who with his shock of white hair and prolix tendencies comes off like a frazzled professor, keeps to a more limited circuit writing out of his house and his office.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2026
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
His answer is this book: a laudably sincere, exasperatingly prolix and occasionally affecting rumination on the state of Egypt—its society, culture, history and politics—pegged to the maddening bureaucracy of the archive.
—Kapil Komireddi, WSJ, 12 Mar. 2023
A certain type of actor thrives in these prolix circumstances.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2021
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prolix
Adjective
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Shinjuku Gyoen is a rambling blend of European and Japanese formal gardens that becomes a focal point of the cherry blossom season in late March.—
Stephen Kelly,
TheWeek,
26 Mar. 2026
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The four leads are overconfident and loutish, spending their time drinking, rambling, and clumsily working through their worries about the future.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Although Robbins could be talkative and engaging particularly when discussing his hometown Houston sports teams, there were also periods of sullen silence and self-medication.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Your 11th House of Hopefulness lights up as enterprising Mars harmonizes with jovial Jupiter in your talkative 3rd house.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Today hosts a gentle Moon-Chiron trine, empowering your friendly 11th house and your verbose 3rd house.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2026
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Styles speak-sings over cascading keyboards in his most verbose song on the album, which is also his most musically stimulating.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Conrad is full of wordy comic dialogue that often sings in its idiosyncrasy but also elicits little more than a chuckle.—
Andy Andersen,
Vulture,
9 Mar. 2026
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During a Moon-Pluto trine with Luna in your connected 7th house and Pluto in your wordy 3rd house, you’re called to strengthen your agreements through open dialogue.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prolix.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prolix. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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