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
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 Director Richard Linklater is fond of a verbose protagonist; Hawke and Julie Delpy gabbed through three films’ worth of Before movies, after all. Joe Reid, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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 But Sieh is the standout, emitting a complex blend of sardonic acceptance, cynical verbosity and submerged emotional longing. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for verbose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for verbose
Adjective
  • The North Carolina folk-rock band’s quiet and rambling third album exists in a cloud of dreamy contemplation.
    Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Trump’s speech was at times entertaining, rambling, repetitive, and combative.
    Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The instinctive Moon moves through your 11th House of Shared Hopes, trining surprising Uranus in your talkative 3rd house.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Lemann, like the talkative older ladies of her youth, clutches the motifs of her past like talismans.
    Brandy Jensen, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 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 stage version’s episodic structure, aside from its tendency toward repetition, largely works well as a vehicle for Bunny’s restless imagination.
    Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
  • On his latest album, the Russian producer crafts distinctive dub techno rhythms inspired by the chiming repetitions of Indonesian gamelan music.
    Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 13 Apr. 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 Apr. 2026.

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