turgid

play

adjective tur·gid \ ˈtər-jəd \

Definition of turgid

1 :excessively embellished in style or language :bombastic, pompous

turgid prose

2 :being in a state of distension :swollen, tumid

turgid limbs

; especially :exhibiting turgor

—

turgidity

play \ˌtər-ˈji-də-tē\ noun

—

turgidly

play \ˈtər-jəd-lē\ adverb

—

turgidness

noun

See turgid defined for English-language learners

See turgid defined for kids

Examples of turgid in a Sentence

turgid leeches having had their fill of blood

Recent Examples of turgid from the Web

Miller and Hardy (the dream team of Olivia Colman and David Tennant) are still working together three years after the turgid events of Season 2.

— mike hale, New York Times, "The Summer TV Lineup: 13 Series to Watch," 25 May 2017
There's a drumbeat now, sending tingles up and down Democratic legs — and Republican Never-Trumper legs — and other sensations through America's turgid Twitter thumbs.

— john kass, chicagotribune.com, "Before impeaching Trump, why not take a few steps back?," 16 May 2017
Brahms, for me, represents the final, richest expression of the romantic in music (as opposed to the turgid neuroticism of Wagner and some of Mahler).

— oliver sacks, WIRED, "Sacks’ IPod Playlist," 25 Sep. 2007

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'turgid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.