1
as in scholarly
marked by or given to showing knowledge in a showy way
The writing was overly complex and pedantic, which made it nearly impossible to understand for anyone but a specialist. The speech was thoroughly researched and well structured, but too pedantic to appeal to a general audience.
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2
as in boring
causing weariness or lack of interest
I found the author's writing informative but dreadfully pedantic.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pedantic
Not to get too pedantic about it, but her latest look presents a wonderful learning opportunity for those of us looking to ace the art of dressing for this suffocating heat.
—
Sam Reed, Glamour, 24 June 2025
In Strauss’s opinion, Oppenheimer’s increasing concerns about nuclear proliferation and radioactive wastes were pedantic, alarmist.
—Literary Hub, 11 June 2025
None of this is pedantic, nor is it puffed up with moral outrage.
—Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025
Newsweek Sports quoted Bruckheimer's statements, highlighting Hamilton's pedantic approach while filming.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pedantic
Sam Reed, Glamour, 24 June 2025
In Strauss’s opinion, Oppenheimer’s increasing concerns about nuclear proliferation and radioactive wastes were pedantic, alarmist.
—Literary Hub, 11 June 2025
None of this is pedantic, nor is it puffed up with moral outrage.
—Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025
Newsweek Sports quoted Bruckheimer's statements, highlighting Hamilton's pedantic approach while filming.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pedantic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pedantic
Adjective
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Much scholarly attention is also paid to the science of electrical storage, enabling a body to function as a permanently recharged battery, and to the use of an enormous lightning-rod mechanism, which will harness lightning from atop an isolated tower, where Victor conducts his experiments.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
28 Oct. 2025
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The study, published on the open-access scholarly article archive, arxiv, has not yet been peer-reviewed.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Despite looking like a fighter pilot who could win a game of dogfight football, Colin isn’t framed as a temptation for Marissa, and a lack of sexy secrets proves to be a recurring blind spot for the series, even if those two have plenty of other skeletons in their massive, boring closets.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
6 Nov. 2025
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All this after Fern just wanted to renovate her boring bookseller life by starting over next to her orc pal Viv’s coffee shop!—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The house in which I had been raised was literate but not artistic.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Unsurprisingly to the economically literate, rent prices went down and more properties became available to rent.—
Agustina Vergara Cid,
Oc Register,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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As that number decreases, exercises such as running and cycling will feel more challenging and tiring, and your endurance may decline as well.—
Alyssa Ages,
Outside,
23 Oct. 2025
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But Braun was solid before tiring and working through injuries that affected him on the ball over the final month last season.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The book was created using a biological, sensual craft, as well as a cerebral one.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
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Much of this lovely, cerebral film unfolds in a cozy Manhattan high-rise, a Christmas tree twinkling in the background as snow falls outside.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Instead, watching Charles attempt to insert himself into the Garfield Administration by forging papers and sneaking into buildings feels repetitive and a bit dull.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
6 Nov. 2025
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Their life in Watertown had been ordinary, maybe even dull sometimes.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The aquatic mammals, Hadsel says, are so intelligent and have such strong sensory organs that they can be taught to recover human remains.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
11 Nov. 2025
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In the summer of '38, only the very intelligent people knew what was coming.—
Liz McNeil,
PEOPLE,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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But having the freedom to let the music breathe and develop allows the score to feel emotionally expressive, and never didactic.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
30 Oct. 2025
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Much of Iran’s clandestine cinema, including some of Panahi’s earlier works, is didactic, focused on valorizing the victims of the regime’s injustices.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pedantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pedantic. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
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