superfluity
/,sju:pə'flu:iti/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- An amount or quantity that is more than what is needed or used; an excess: A superfluity is something that exceeds what is sufficient or necessary.
- The state or quality of being superfluous: It can refer to the condition of being unnecessary or redundant.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The supermarket displayed a superfluity of ripe bananas. (There was an excessive amount of bananas, more than could likely be sold or needed.)
- His speech was criticized for its superfluity of adjectives. (The speech contained an unnecessary excess of descriptive words.)
- In modern life, we often face a superfluity of choices. (We are presented with an overwhelming and sometimes unnecessary number of options.)
Advanced Usage
- "A superfluity of...": This is a common construction used to indicate an overabundance of something specific.
- The banquet table groaned under a superfluity of delicacies. (The table was overloaded with an excessive number of fine foods.)
- Used in formal or literary contexts to critique waste, excess, or lack of restraint.
Variants and Related Words
- Superfluous (adj): Exceeding what is sufficient or required; unnecessary.
- The final paragraph was superfluous to the argument.
- Superfluously (adv): In an unnecessary or excessive manner.
- The document was superfluously detailed.
Synonyms
- Excess: An amount of something that is more than necessary, permitted, or desirable.
- Surplus: An amount left over when requirements have been met; an excess of production or supply.
- Overabundance: An excessive quantity.
- Pleonasm (specifically for language): The use of more words than are necessary to convey meaning.
Antonyms
- Shortage: A state or situation in which something needed cannot be obtained in sufficient amounts.
- Deficiency: A lack or shortage.
- Necessity: The fact of being required or indispensable.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- An embarrassment of riches: A situation where there is so much of a good thing that it becomes a problem. This idiom is often used as a synonym for a troublesome superfluity.
- With three excellent candidates, the hiring committee faced an embarrassment of riches.
Noun
- extreme excess
- an embarrassment of riches