Definition

1. Noun:
   • The quality of being tediously verbose or wordy: "Long-windedness" refers to the state or characteristic of using an excessive number of words, especially in a dull, boring, or protracted manner.

Usage

• "Long-windedness" is an uncountable noun used to describe a negative quality of speech or writing. It criticizes communication for being unnecessarily prolonged and tedious.
• It is often used in formal or critical contexts to point out inefficiency in expression.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The professor's long-windedness made the lecture difficult to follow.
  • We had to endure the long-windedness of his explanation.
  • The report was rejected due to its unnecessary long-windedness.

Advanced Usage

• "A tendency toward long-windedness": A habitual inclination to be verbose.
  • The author is brilliant, but his tendency toward long-windedness can test a reader's patience.

Variants and Related Words

• Long-winded (adj): Using or expressed in an excessive number of words.
  • He gave a long-winded apology that lasted ten minutes.
• Verbosity (n): The quality of using more words than needed; wordiness. (A close synonym, often more formal).
  • The document's verbosity obscured its main argument.
• Prolixity (n): Extended to great, unnecessary, or tedious length; long-windedness. (A more literary synonym).
  • The legal contract was criticized for its prolixity.

Synonyms

• Wordiness: The use of too many words.
• Garrulity: Excessive talkativeness, especially on trivial matters.
• Circumlocution: The use of many words where fewer would do, especially in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive.

Antonyms

• Conciseness: The quality of being brief and to the point.
• Succinctness: The quality of being expressed clearly and in a few words.
• Brevity: Concise and exact use of words in writing or speech.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To beat around the bush: To avoid talking about what is important; to speak indirectly. (This can be a cause of long-windedness).
  • Stop beating around the bush and get to the point; your long-windedness is frustrating.
• A long story short: Used to introduce a concise summary after a potentially lengthy explanation. (This phrase is used to counteract long-windedness).
  • To make a long story short, we missed the flight.

Noun

1. boring verbosity