Definition

Noun: An expressive style characterized by the use of an excessive number of words or empty, redundant language, often making communication less clear and efficient.

Usage

"Verbosity" describes the quality of speech or writing that uses more words than necessary. It is typically used in a critical or negative sense to indicate that communication is wordy, long-winded, or unnecessarily complicated.

Examples

• The professor's verbosity made it difficult for students to identify the main points of the lecture.
• The report was criticized for its verbosity and lack of concrete data.
• In technical writing, clarity is valued over verbosity.

Advanced Usage

• "To lapse into verbosity": To unintentionally begin speaking or writing in a wordy manner.
  • The politician tended to lapse into verbosity when asked a difficult question.
• "A model of verbosity": An extreme or classic example of wordiness (often used ironically).
  • His 50-page memo on office supplies is a model of verbosity.

Variants and Related Words

• Verbose (adj): Using or containing more words than needed; wordy.
  • The instructions were so verbose that I couldn't understand them.
• Verbiage (n): Speech or writing that uses too many words or excessively technical language.
  • The contract was full of legal verbiage.

Synonyms

• Wordiness: The use of too many words.
• Prolixity: Tediously lengthy speech or writing.
• Long-windedness: Talking or writing at great and tedious length.
• 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 few words.
• Brevity: Concise and exact use of words in writing or speech.
• Terseness: Sparing in the use of words; abrupt.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "To beat around the bush": To avoid talking about what is important; to speak indirectly (a form of verbosity).
  • Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you really think.
• "To use a sledgehammer to crack a nut": To use disproportionate force or effort to solve a small problem (can describe an overly verbose explanation for a simple idea).
  • His 20-minute explanation for a simple process was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Noun

1. an expressive style that uses excessive or empty words