VERBOSE Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

verbose

adjective

(ˌ)vər-ˈbōs

Definition of verbose next

as in rambling

using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea had to wade through a verbose letter of complaint

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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

Examples of verbose in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Truss is far less colorful, less verbose than her former backslapping boss — perhaps in a good way. —

William Booth, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2022 Laurie Woolery, who has helmed the premieres of several new plays at another New Haven theater, the Yale Rep, in New Haven, has a knack for packing action and needed distraction into scenes that might otherwise be tiringly verbose. —

Christopher Arnott, courant.com, 19 Mar. 2022 Nate wasn’t very verbose about what had gone on in the foyer. —

Katcy Stephan, Variety, 28 Feb. 2022 This is a great tool to use so that more verbose and talkative members of the classroom don’t dominate the conversations. —

Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2021 See all Example Sentences for verbose

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'verbose.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.