verbose 1 of 2

Definition of verbosenext

verbosity

2 of 2

noun

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
Adjective
But Dreher has been giving voice to the yearnings and frustrations of religious conservatives for many years—as a magazine blogger with more than 1 million pageviews a month, an author of best-selling books, and a deliriously verbose writer on Substack. Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026 Instead, Reeves became Estragon, the more simplistic and long-suffering of the duo, while Winter tackled Vladimir, the more commanding and verbose character. Brent Lang, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
This working prompt injection came only after much trial and error, explaining the verbosity and the detail in it. Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025 The truth is, there is rarely a Merritt Wever or an Adrien Brody in awards speeches—extreme cases of brevity or verbosity that stun both those in the room and at home. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for verbose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for verbose
Adjective
  • Thankfully, Babitz did exactly that — no rambling thoughts, petty accusations or amusing missives left unsaid.
    Michael Schaub, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
  • Despite this rambling semi-introduction, Newman’s film makes quick work of all of this, recognizing that getting to the Tova-and-Cameron show (with, of course, many guest appearances by Marcellus) is the entire point of the picture.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 7 May 2026
Adjective
  • Teaching first grade has always involved dealing with wiggly and talkative kids.
    Stacker, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
  • This story was not supposed to begin in Zagreb, but then a talkative five-year-old named Oliver showed up at my lunch table.
    Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2026
Adjective
  • 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
Noun
  • The action itself is mundane, almost aggressively ordinary, yet the repetition becomes psychologically adhesive.
    Andrew S. Jacobson, Baltimore Sun, 13 May 2026
  • Harris adapted Is God Is from her play of the same name, and the theatrical spirit lives on in the film through the rhythm and repetition of the dialogue.
    Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
Adjective
  • Legal opinions tend to be dry, wordy, and intentionally vague.
    David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2026
  • 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
Noun
  • The repetitiveness of the plot is not helped by the many montages writer-director Yandy Laurens uses as shortcuts, instead of writing scenes that show how the central relationship is developing.
    Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 15 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Just as the limitless space of web text tempts writers to indulge their logorrhea, the blinking, ever-transmuting, cartoonish interface of web browsers prevents would-be readers from paying attention to anything for longer than about 7 seconds.
    Barton Swaim, WSJ, 19 Sep. 2022
  • Nor has Musk kept his Twitter logorrhea in check in other respects.
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2022
Noun
  • On their website, the three yellow stripes are prominently featured on the website under the Black Lives Matter wordage, and used on their social media accounts.
    Amritpal Kaur Sandhu-Longoria, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2023
  • Reached by the Union-Tribune Wednesday morning, Lindsey differed with McGillis’ wordage.
    Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2023

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Cite this Entry

“Verbose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/verbose. Accessed 19 May. 2026.

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