Definition of verbosenext

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective verbose differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of verbose are diffuse, prolix, and wordy. While all these words mean "using more words than necessary to express thought," verbose suggests a resulting dullness, obscurity, or lack of incisiveness or precision.

the verbose position papers

When can diffuse be used instead of verbose?

The words diffuse and verbose can be used in similar contexts, but diffuse stresses lack of compactness and pointedness of style.

diffuse memoirs that are so many shaggy-dog stories

When would prolix be a good substitute for verbose?

The meanings of prolix and verbose largely overlap; however, prolix suggests unreasonable and tedious dwelling on details.

habitually transformed brief anecdotes into prolix sagas

When might wordy be a better fit than verbose?

Although the words wordy and verbose have much in common, wordy may also imply loquaciousness or garrulity.

a wordy speech

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of verbose To that, the verbose CEO pumped up HBO and streamer HBO Max as the real crown jewels in the WBD empire. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 6 May 2026 Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7 bears his recognizable fast-paced, verbose style and features an almost impossibly starry ensemble cast. James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026 Today hosts a gentle Moon-Chiron trine, empowering your friendly 11th house and your verbose 3rd house. Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for verbose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for verbose
Adjective
  • On the latest episode of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart took aim at Donald Trump‘s rambling speech during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
    Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026
  • People process, remember, and act on information more easily when it’s organized into three buckets instead of an unstructured, rambling, and confusing stream of ideas.
    Carmine Gallo, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Adjective
  • Warsh has elected to break with his three immediate predecessors’ efforts to make the Fed more talkative and transparent.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
  • In Emme Lund’s 2022 novel, the talkative bird (named Gail) who lives between Owen’s ribs acts as a metaphor for both queerness and disability.
    Chris Martin, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
Adjective
  • Even the blandest overtures can whip him into a frantic, pornographic, prolix ecstasy.
    Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2026
  • The album is a concise, 10-song set, a deliberate contrast to prolix streaming-era albums like the ones released lately by Taylor Swift and Beyoncé.
    Jon Pareles, New York Times, 17 May 2024
Adjective
  • When asked to describe duties, for example, things could get wordy fast.
    Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 25 July 2026
  • Some card descriptions are a bit wordy, forcing pauses to reread during your first attempts.
    Jason Bennett, Arkansas Online, 28 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Verbose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/verbose. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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