A word that means using big words

  • #1

What’s an adjective for someone that uses $10 words when a 50 cent word will do nicely? I’m trying to describe how in academic articles on political theory that there are so many big words that the meaning and purpose of the article gets lost.

  • TrentinaNE


    foxfirebrand


    • #3

    A compulsive polysyllabricator?
    .
    .

    Vanda


    • #6

    sesquipedalian, adjective:
    1. Given to or characterized by the use of long words.
    2. Long and ponderous; having many syllables.

    Oops, post crossing! :)

    • #7

    Doodlebugger and Vanda :)

    I think this is a wonderful word (which I admit to never having heard of) and one which I shall add to my vocabulary.

    (My late, dear old father, whenever I used a long word, used to say, «Where did you find that word? Hanging on the bathroom door? :D )

    He would have had a lot to say about your offering. :)

    Thanks,
    LRV

    foxfirebrand


    • #8

    Ah yes— that’s the standard. Couldn’t think of it, so I coined something.
    .
    .

    mgarizona


    • #9

    Nice to see ‘sesquipedalian’ getting so much respect. I suggested it in a similar thread a few months back and it attracted no attention. A great word for which we have Horace to thank.

    • #10

    Hyperarticulate:
    hi-per-ar-TIC-you-lit

    loladamore


    • #11

    I don’t use big words. I’m hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobic.

    french4beth


    • #12

    Hi Mary & welcome to the forums!

    There’s also pleonastic but this is the use of more words than necessary (not necessarily the size of the words).

    Also: ostentatious.

    Don’t know why, but sesquipedalian sounds like some kind of early primate…

    panjandrum


    loladamore


    • #14

    … and a very big welcome to maryp3177

    Sorry for not noticing that this was your first post (fortunately french4beth and panjandrum did!). Welcome!

    I’m trying to describe how in academic articles on political theory that there are so many big words that the meaning and purpose of the article gets lost.

    Academics often write in purple prose, or at least have the occasional purple passage in their articles.

    loladamore


    • #15

    Don’t know why, but sesquipedalian sounds like some kind of early primate…

    How many feet would it have? Bi-, tri-…. sesqui. Or would sesqui refer to the kind of legs or feet? :confused:

    • #16

    Yes, Mary, welcome to the forums.! :)

    An excellent first post if I may say so.

    Kind regards,
    LRV

    badgrammar


    • #17

    «sesquipedalian»… I did not know that word either, and it is a beauty! Excellent, excellent…

    rsweet


    • #18

    I found a few to add.

    macroverbumsciolist
    1) a person who is ignorant of large words
    2) a person who pretends to know a word, then secretly refers to a dictionary

    grandiloquent
    pompous or extravagant in language, style, or manner, esp. in a way that is intended to impress

    fustian
    pompous or pretentious speech or writing

    LRV, when I was younger and used a big word, my dad used to say, «You do and you’ll clean it up!»:rolleyes:

    • #19

    How many feet would it have? Bi-, tri-…. sesqui. Or would sesqui refer to the kind of legs or feet? :confused:

    Almost certainly the kind of feet, Lola. Really, really long ones which allowed it to ski across snowy wastes as the first ice age approached. :cool:

    LRV

    loladamore


    • #20

    Another couple of lovely words:

    bombastic — grandiose but with little meaning, ostentatiously lofty in style
    turgid — (of language or style) tediously pompous or bombastic.

    Edit: I love your explanation of sesqui, LRV!

    mgarizona


    • #21

    How many feet would it have? Bi-, tri-…. sesqui. Or would sesqui refer to the kind of legs or feet? :confused:

    Horace’s phrase was verba sesquipedalia which would mean «words a foot and a half long’

    Like ‘sesquicentennial’ means the 150th anniversary.

    • #22

    How many feet would it have? Bi-, tri-…. sesqui. Or would sesqui refer to the kind of legs or feet? :confused:

    Yes, it refers to the beast’s ability to move its manifold feet sequentially ;)
    When you’ve got 20+ it takes some concentration to get the rhythm right, I imagine.

    • #23

    Yes, it refers to the beast’s ability to move its manifold feet sequentially ;)
    When you’ve got 20+ it takes some concentration to get the rhythm right, I imagine.

    Millipedes seem to do it well :D (she said, continuing to go off topic). ;)

    «This year is the sesquicentennial of my stone-built cottage», she added (truthfully) to get back on topic. :p

    LRV

    panjandrum


    • #24

    Prolix is a good word, but it refers to the quantity of words and their obfuscatory characteristics rather than their length.

    • #25

    What a great selection of words, especially that sesqui… thing! I’d never remember how to write it.

    loladamore


    • #26

    Prolix is a good word, but it refers to the quantity of words and their obfuscatory characteristics rather than their length.

    Obfuscatory is a good word, too: very good indeed!

    50something


    • #27

    I agree with «grandiloquent», seems accurate to me.

    • #28

    Is there an English word for «big words»
    ….and a word for someone who chooses a big word when they could just as eaisly use a simple word.

    thanks for your suggestions, scotu

    KHS

    KHS

    Senior Member


    • #29

    Some possibilities:

    complex word, multisyllabic word, difficult word, obfuscatory ;) word

    Karen

    • #30

    Is there an English word for «big words»
    ….and a word for someone who chooses a big word when they could just as eaisly use a simple word.

    thanks for your suggestions, scotu

    In one sense, polysyllabic words are big or long words, although I think that you’re looking for another sense, perhaps something along the lines of highfalutin or verbose language or speech.

    You could call somebody who uses such speech pompous or a pedant and maybe a logophile, although that’s somebody who loves all words, not just big ones.

    • #31

    One who chooses to use them might be termed sesquipedalian.

    • #32

    Is there an English word for «big words»
    ….and a word for someone who chooses a big word when they could just as eaisly use a simple word.

    thanks for your suggestions, scotu

    The standard BE expression is long words — complicated, latinate, difficult: all these things are suggested by the adjective long.

    • #33

    Thank you all for the suggestions.

    Jefe, I like your word so much I’m going to use it in my signature. Thanks.

    edit: and it lead me to another interesting word: hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia = Fear of big words

    SwissPete


    • #34

    hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia = Fear of big words

    I thought it was hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia :eek: .

    • #35

    I thought it was hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia :eek: .

    wikidictionary suggests that hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is a deliberate mispelling just to make the word longer.

    SwissPete


    • #36

    wikidictionary suggests that hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is a deliberate mispelling just to make the word longer.

    :cool:

    nzfauna


    sdgraham


    • #39

    Verbose means to use more words than are necessary to describe a concept that can be expressed with fewer words or in less space or less time, particularly when the concept can be expressed more simply.

    As an example, see the preceding sentence. Verbose doesn’t have anything to do with using big words.

    In view of some of the words offered on this thread, I wonder if anybody could use them without being guilty of that which they are describing.

    • #40

    I don’t think so. Verbose applies to using more words than necessary and has nothing to to do specifically with long words.:)

    nzfauna


    • #41

    Yeah, I knew that :) I thought it might be good to describe the overall phenomenon of the piece of writing. Just an idea. I should have explained myself:)

    • #42

    polysyllabricator The word you’ve entered isn’t in the dictionary. Click on a spelling suggestion below or try again using the search bar above.

    JamesM


    • #43

    Yes, but sesquipedalian is in the dictionary. :) (I think polysyllabricator was an invention of Foxfirebrand’s.)

    farhad_persona


    • #44

    -He likes using big/fancy words.
    -high-flown rhetoric
    -stilted style of writing

    What is a person called who uses:

    1. Complicated vocabulary when a simple answer would be sufficient?
    2. Uses complex vocabulary to make others think they are highly educated
    3. Is unnecessarily verbose

    Laurel's user avatar

    Laurel

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    asked Apr 2, 2020 at 15:48

    hotajax's user avatar

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    You could describe the person as grandiloquent:

    (of a person, their language or writing) given to using language in a showy way by using an excessive amount of difficult words to impress others; bombastic; turgid

    answered Apr 2, 2020 at 16:01

    jsheeran's user avatar

    jsheeranjsheeran

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    To many Americans, big words are an affront. People who use fancy words are trying to show us up, flaunting their education and intelligence, rubbing our noses in our own shortcomings.

    It’s true there are people who use their vocabularies to intimidate. It’s a shabby tactic, and it’s sad how effective it can be. Many a faulty argument has been won by the side with the glib, silver-tongued wordsmith.

    Still, a highly developed society needs big words. Most multisyllabic words combine two or more smaller words to express complex ideas that come about as a culture copes with the world’s intricacy, uncertainty, and inscrutability.

    In the end, big words take up far less space than repeatedly articulating the complicated concepts they represent. Not so long ago, paranoid was an exotic word that only intellectuals used. (It’s from the Greek para: “amiss, incorrect” + nous: “mind.”) Nowadays even seventh-graders use paranoid. The culture needed a word that could sum up, in a few pithy syllables, “having an irrational belief that you’re being persecuted.”

    So below are several big words that, like paranoid, might come in handy in certain situations. The problem is how to get them into general usage. If you take a shine to any of these words, try slipping one in around friends who wouldn’t hate you for it and might even ask you what it means.

    Pareidolia  You know how every so often you read about people who see Jesus Christ in a tree trunk? Or some woman in Ohio who keeps a swirl of moldy Cheez Whiz in a vault because she sees the visage of Elvis? That’s pareidolia: the phenomenon of finding the familiar in an improbable place.

    Misology  This is a word for our times. It means hatred of reason, logic, enlightenment. People who oppose higher learning and progress used to be dismissed as fools. Now a potential voter’s misology is something many politicians pander to.

    Sesquipedalian  This really long adjective means “really long.” It was coined to describe big words, so it is what it means. It can also refer to someone who uses words that are really long, maybe too long.

    Billingsgate  Foul or abusive language. It derives from a rowdy fish market in seventeenth century London. It’s innocuous-sounding and obscure enough to work to your advantage if you’re ever sitting with your family near a foul-mouthed sot who won’t shut up. “Please, dude, go easy on the billingsgate, huh?” OK, that probably wouldn’t work, but you tried, and let’s hope it sounded mild enough to avoid a drubbing.

    Prelapsarian  If you describe a garden as prelapsarian, you’re praising its unspoiled loveliness, not criticizing it for being dated or out of fashion. We get this word from theology. It’s meant to evoke the state of innocence before the Fall of Man.

    Paraprosdokian  One or more sentences that end in an unexpected way. Here’s a fine example: “The car stopped on a dime—which unfortunately was in a pedestrian’s pocket.” Bet you never saw that coming. (Neither did the pedestrian.)

    Orthoepy  It’s supposed to be or-THO-a-pee, and by telling you that, I sort of defined the word: it’s the study of proper pronunciation.

    Callipygian  Here’s a strikingly euphonious alternative to leering-frat-boy language. It means “having shapely buttocks.” I think I prefer it to badonkadonk.

    Tom Stern

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    Words that aren’t in someone’s limited vocabulary, so they accuse you of trying to «sound intelligent» when what they really mean is, clearly you are more intelligent than I am, and I should pick up a dictionary.

    Or any other book.

    Joshua: «The thing with God is he never has proven himself. People attribute things to him, however science has just as much «proof» for evolution and non creationism.»

    Michael: «God definitely exists. I can feel his divine presence in my life. Stop using big words to sound intelligent.»

    Get the big words mug.

    Words used uncommonly during conversations. Used primarily by people with broader vocabulary to convey precise meaning efficiently and sometime by people to seem correct and sound intelligent but backfires when arguing with someone that has the same if not broader vocabulary.

    Equations get simplified whenever possible so should sentences.

    Example #1

    Nationalist: They have the temerity to question the morality of our society when all we’ve done is give asylum. Every person that refuses to assimilate should be declared persona non grata.

    Some troll: Dude just say «Fucking ingrates, just leave we don’t want you.»

    Example #2

    Reasonable guy: This bitch was caught red handed and a lot of evidence shows that she is a liar. She’s a proven fraud without a doubt.

    Fanatic fanboy/gay: Your propensity to assume higher moral ground by deliberate ad hominem will not get you far.

    Reasonable guy: What the fuck are you talking about? Her very character is at stake here. You don’t get to lie and cheat others without people criticizing your character. And stop it with the big words you don’t sound smart at all, you’re just an idiot who can’t accept that you’ve been lied to.

    Get the big words mug.

    Published August 27, 2021

    That’s a big word, indeed!

    Most of the longest words in the English language are scientific and technical terms, like pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. But what are some long words that you might actually use one day, without having to become a microbiologist or something? We have gathered up over a dozen lengthy words that you might actually come across in the wild (or at least might actually want to use). If you are a sesquipedalian, or hope to become one one day, this slideshow is for you. And to find out what sesquipedalian means, read on.

    For a look at the longest words you’re likely never to use, just click here.

    sesquipedalian

    Sesquipedalian [ ses-kwi-pi-dey-lee-uhn ] means “given to using long words.” It comes from Latin sesquipedālis meaning “measuring a foot and a half.”

    • The professor was so sesquipedalian that he was often incomprehensible to his students.

    The poet Horace, who is credited with coining the term sesquipedalian in Latin, used the word to warn young poets against using overly long and complicated words. Horace, of course, ironically did not take his own advice here to make his point—sesquipedalian itself is 14 letters long.

    magnanimity

    If someone asks you the meaning of a word, it’s important to have magnanimity [ mag-nuhnim-i-tee ] about it. Magnanimity means “the quality of being generous in forgiving an insult or injury; free from petty resentfulness or vindictiveness.”

    • We hoped that the Queen would show magnanimity and not sentence us to prison for the slight.

    The related term magnanimous comes from the Latin for “great-souled.” Impressive.

    Speaking of soul, experience the linguistic offerings of soul food by reading about its history and vocabulary.

    decompensation

    As we noted, many of the longest terms in English are scientific and or medical terms. Some of these are so complex, it is unlikely you will come across them unless you are in the field. Others you are more likely to encounter, like decompensation [ dee-kom-puhn-sey-shuhn ]. Decompensation means “the inability of a diseased heart to compensate for its defect.”

    • I observed some symptoms of heart decompensation in the patient, including difficulty breathing and leg swelling.

    While typically decompensation refers to the heart organ no longer working properly, it can also be used to refer to other organs or a psychological state.

    counterrevolutionary

    One way long words are created in the English language is by combining different word elements together to create a new word. That’s the case with counterrevolutionary, a combination of counter, revolution, and the suffix –ary. Counterrevolutionary means “opposing a revolution or revolutionary government.”

    • After the revolutionaries came to power, the landed gentry began plotting a counterrevolutionary movement to regain control.

    deinstitutionalization

    Public policy is another domain where you will find especially long words. An example is deinstitutionalization, meaning “the release of institutionalized people, especially mental health patients, from an institution for placement and care in the community.”

    • Many studies find that deinstitutionalization led to an increase in the number of mentally ill people in prison.

    transcendentalism

    Our next term, transcendentalism [ trans-sen-den-tl-iz-uhm ], also describes an American social experiment, of sorts, from the 19th century. Transcendentalism, or transcendental philosophy, is “a philosophy emphasizing the intuitive and spiritual above the empirical.”

    • The group quickly embraced the principles of transcendentalism, including respect of nature and the importance of human effort.

    The writers most closely associated with transcendentalism are Margaret Fuller, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry Thoreau.

    paleoanthropology

    As you may have gathered, many academic terms are quite long. Even the names of some academic disciplines can get up there in length, like paleoanthropology [ pey-lee-oh-an-thruhpoluh-jee ]. Paleoanthropology is “the study of the origins and predecessors of the present human species, using fossils and other remains.”

    • One of the most important aspects of paleoanthropology is determining whether ancient fossilized remains are Homo sapien or another hominin species.

    Learn about other intriguing areas of study and profession with this article on 10 other “-ologist” professions.

    psychophysiology

    Another academic domain with a daunting name is psychophysiology, “the branch of physiology that deals with the interrelation of mental and physical phenomena.” Physiology is the branch of biology that deals with the functions and activities of living organisms.

    • The medical students studied psychophysiology to learn how heart rate is related to a patient’s emotional state.

    The psycho- part of the word psychophysiology is a combining form meaning “psyche” or “mind.”

    countercyclical

    Yet another area where you are likely to find long, complex terminology is in business and economics. That’s where we get the term countercyclical, “opposing the trend of a business or economic cycle; countervailing.” For example, reducing spending when the economy is doing well is an example of a countercyclical economic policy.

    • Our panel of economic advisors recommends that we enact countercyclical infrastructure investment; when the economy is doing poorly, we should spend more on roads and bridges.

    profligacy

    Another lengthy term related to economics is profligacy [ prof-li-guh-see ], meaning “reckless extravagance” or “great abundance.”

    • Budget hawks were once again warning that the government’s profligacy was going to increase the nation’s debt.

    The word profligacy ultimately comes from the Latin prōflīgātus, meaning “degraded” or “debased.”

    palingenesist

    Philosophy and theology are also great sources for long words. One example is palingenesist [ pal-in-jenuh-sist ], “a person who believes in a doctrine of rebirth or transmigration of souls.”

    • The palingenesist Plutarch believed that the soul is reborn into another body after death, a theory known as metempsychosis.

    (Bonus big word: metempsychosis!)

    The original use of the word palingenesis, or the continual rebirth of the universe, dates back to ancient Greek philosophers known as the Stoics.

    palimpsest

    Another long word we can thank the Greeks for is palimpsest [ pal-imp-sest ], from Greek palímpsēstos, meaning “rubbed again.” The word palimpsest in English originally meant “a parchment or the like from which writing has been partially or completely erased to make room for another text.”

    • Scholars use sophisticated equipment like optical scanners to read the remains of erased texts on Medieval palimpsests.

    These days, palimpsest is most often used figuratively to mean “something that has a new layer, aspect, or appearance that builds on its past and allows us to see or perceive parts of this past.”

    antepenultimate

    Our third to the last word in this slideshow is, appropriately, antepenultimate [ an-tee-pi-nuhl-tuh-mit ]. Antepenultimate means “third from the end.”

    • I was relieved to see that I was slated to be the antepenultimate speaker, so I would only have to wait for two more presentations after my own.

    The word antepenultimate ultimately comes from the Latin antepaenultima meaning “the second (syllable) from the last.”

    dodecaphonism

    Some long words are just fun to say. That’s the case with dodecaphonism, “musical composition using the 12-tone technique.” Dodecaphonism [ doh-dekuh-fuh-niz-uhm ] is a composition technique that uses all 12 notes of the chromatic scale and is atonal.

    • The dodecaphonism in the composer’s work created a strange and unsettling feeling in the listeners.

    amelioration

    A particularly long word that we hope you find a lot of good use for is amelioration, “an act or instance of making better.”

    • We were hopeful that the move would lead to an amelioration of our living conditions and a better quality of life overall.

    Funnily enough, amelioration [ uh-meel-yuh-rey-shuhn ] and melioration mean the exact same thing.

    What is Big Words?

    Brianna. Of many other things. See also, bitch.

    I know, I’m a big ol’ b word, aren’t I? B is for Brianna, of course.

    👍25 👎11


    Big Words — video


    Big Words — what is it?

    when someone uses big words to make themselves sound more intelligent

    Mary: “Subliminal messages appeal to our subconscious mind. It is a process in which external stimuli trigger reactions without us noticing signals”

    James: “Thats big word bullshit”

    👍25 👎17


    What does «Big Words» mean?

    for when someone spills a lot of tea and you don’t know what to say

    Person 1:“so yeah that’s the gossip.”
    Person 2 “word big tea lol”

    👍25 👎11


    Big Words — what does it mean?

    big nerdy words that nerds and geeks use to maake them look smarter than other people.

    «What are you doing using your big school words? Just use normal people words and I’ll understand what you’re talking about.» — Ricky, Trailer park boys

    👍107 👎37


    Big Words — meaning

    A sarcastic term commonly used to replace ‘Dictionary’ when somebody uses longer words than they normally would.

    Ben : “This food is proper phenomenal.”
    Kim : “You been reading up on a Big Word Book?”

    👍27 👎11


    Big Words — definition

    It’s just another way to say word as in that’s whats up or ok or bet or say less. Mostly used by out of touch white guys trying to relate and yet ironically mock younger generations.

    Guy 1: Real tired of existing

    Guy2: Big Word

    👍37 👎23


    Big Words — slang

    A word used to make yourself sound smart. This usually bites you in the ass, however, and you sound like a dumbass trying to sound smart.

    Guy 1: «So, I auscultated that you luxuriate in mudkips.»
    Guy 2: «HOLY SHIT MAN, BIG WORDS!»

    -entire universe collapses into itself and both die-

    👍153 👎153


    Big Words

    Words used uncommonly during conversations. Used primarily by people with broader vocabulary to convey precise meaning efficiently and sometime by people to seem correct and sound intelligent but backfires when arguing with someone that has the same if not broader vocabulary.

    Equations get simplified whenever possible so should sentences.

    Example #1

    Nationalist: They have the temerity to question the morality of our society when all we’ve done is give asylum. Every person that refuses to assimilate should be declared persona non grata.

    Some troll: Dude just say «Fucking ingrates, just leave we don’t want you.»

    Example #2

    Reasonable guy: This bitch was caught red handed and a lot of evidence shows that she is a liar. She’s a proven fraud without a doubt.

    Fanatic fanboy/gay: Your propensity to assume higher moral ground by deliberate ad hominem will not get you far.

    Reasonable guy: What the fuck are you talking about? Her very character is at stake here. You don’t get to lie and cheat others without people criticizing your character. And stop it with the big words you don’t sound smart at all, you’re just an idiot who can’t accept that you’ve been lied to.

    👍83 👎55


    Big Words

    something ignorant people say to compliment another on their outstanding usage of SAT-esque words, while simultaneously degrading themselves for their lack of a modest vocabulary.

    You’re essay had a lot of big words on it, didn’t get to read all of it, but i gave you an A anyways.

    👍361 👎231


    Big Words

    Words that aren’t in someone’s limited vocabulary, so they accuse you of trying to «sound intelligent» when what they really mean is, clearly you are more intelligent than I am, and I should pick up a dictionary.

    Or any other book.

    Joshua: «The thing with God is he never has proven himself. People attribute things to him, however science has just as much «proof» for evolution and non creationism.»

    Michael: «God definitely exists. I can feel his divine presence in my life. Stop using big words to sound intelligent.»

    👍567 👎275


    A five dollar word

    Using multitudinous big words in your writing will make you a sesquipedalian writer.

    It is always a temptation for a writer to show off the vastness of their vocabulary.

    There is nothing wrong at all with using big long words in your writing.

    But it is the use, style, placement, frequency, relevance, and the mixing of the formal and informal register that can cause difficulties for readers.

    Readers love learning new words.

    But if they have to run off to a dictionary for a definition three times on one page, it will not make for an enjoyable read.

    Another word for big words is polysyllabic.

    It means using words of many syllables, which can become polysyllabic jargon.

    Writers need to excogitate before they ameliorate a text with interminable and convoluted lexis.

    Or in other words, if you have an irrational fear of big words, writers need to think before using them.

    In fact, there is a word for the fear of long words. It is hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia.

    According to Wiktionary, it is not a misspelled form of hippopotamus.

    It’s the combination of the Latin prefixes hippopoto and monsto to exaggerate the meaning of big.

    Nevertheless, nonetheless, however, and notwithstanding all that, I always think that a simple word like but will usually suffice.

    The use of extended vocabulary

    For a descriptive narrative, using the words nice, pretty, and lovely will not make for an exciting read.

    But in an article or blog post, keeping things simple is excellent writing.

    In spoken English, politicians, in particular, love using as many long words as they possibly can.

    When your job is to say as little as possible for an extended period of time, using long, big words that no one knows is the perfect way to achieve a positive result.

    What is Eldrich?

    What is eldritch

    In fiction, it is a fine balance. The word eldritch became popular with paranormal writers.

    The definition of the word means weird and sinister or ghostly and perhaps derives from the word elf.

    But when it is used too often, it loses its punch. Used once is fun, but twice or three times becomes boring.

    Words such as menacing, threatening, ominous, forbidding, baleful, frightening, eerie, alarming, disturbing, disquieting, dark, and black offer plenty of choices to say the same thing.

    Collocation

    When using two or more adjectives, the pairing or collocation of words can come unstuck when using unusual word combinations.

    Yes, a Ferrari is singularly puissant, splendiferous, and pricey. But maybe the words powerful and expensive might collocate better.

    It is not that big words of more than three syllables confuse readers.

    There is no need to dumb down your writing, thinking that readers might have a specific phobia for long words.

    It is when and how you use words that can disrupt the flow of your text.

    If you want to be sesquipedalian, that fine. Just know when to avoid circumlocution.

    You don’t need to write with a fear of long words. Use them at the right time and for the right reason.

    What is another word for thesaurus?

    big words in a thesaurus

    It is an old joke. But there is an answer.

    thesaurus
    noun
    wordfinder, wordbook, synonym dictionary/lexicon; rare synonymy.

    By whatever name, a thesaurus is a writer’s best friend.

    I love the verb to liaise. Not because it is a lengthy word, but because I know how to spell it.

    But how often would I use the word? Perhaps once or twice a year.

    I would use work together, collaborate, network, link up, or hook up far more often.

    Uncommon words are like salt and pepper. A little seasoning goes a long way, but too much spoils the meal.

    Context in writing

    It is in the context of use that a writer needs to be cautious. When you look for a word in a thesaurus, always check for formal and informal uses.

    When you are writing dialogue, make sure the vocabulary you choose suits the character.

    If your protagonist is a politician and wants to sound intellectual, then the twenty-dollar word perfidiousness might easily be one that you could use.

    But if your main character is a down-and-out alcoholic detective, he would probably use more common words like bogus or shifty.

    Similarly, if you are writing fiction using the third person omniscient point of view, you need to maintain a consistency of style in your narrative.

    It is not the length or type of word that matters.

    Long words such as superfluous and incomprehensible are extremely common.

    But short words like mien, cavil, or descry belong to an overly formal writing style or voice.

    To suddenly change the voice of a character or the narrator is very disconcerting for a reader.

    Consistency and not trying to sound smart are the keys to good writing.

    Be frugal with your five-dollar words

    Mark Twain gave wise advice. “Don’t use a five-dollar word when a fifty-cent word will do.”

    Here are some examples for you of my favorite five and ten-dollar words with a fifty-cent equivalent.

    $5 word: Quintessential   –   $0.50 word: Typical

    $10 word: Boondoggle   –   $0.50 word: Wasteful

    $10 word: Brobdingnagian   –   $0.50 word: Huge

    $5 word: Discombobulate   –   $0.50 word: Confuse

    $5 word: Adscititious   –   $0.50 word: Additional

    $5 word: Bindlestiff   –   $0.50 word: Tramp

    $10 word: Umbriferous   –   $0.50 word: Shady

    $5 word: Natation   –   $0.50 word: Swimming

    $5 word: Octothorpe   –   $0.50 word: Hash as in #

    $5 word: Equanimous   –   $0.50 word: Balanced

    $5 word: Serpentine   –   $0.50 word: Wily

    $10 word: Rebarbative   –   $0.50 word: Irritating

    The denouement

    Denouement? Well, okay. It’s the conclusion.

    Acquiring and expanding your vocabulary is a never-ending process for a writer.

    But learning to be careful in when and how you use your expanding vocabulary is far more important.

    Why spend a five-dollar word when a cheap one will do the job?

    Repetition is often a problem, particularly in a long text such as a novel.

    Variety is essential.

    But it needs to remain within the voice, style, and register of your writing. This is not such an easy task.

    Summary

    Finding the right word and using it in the right place is a must. But using a word sparingly is equally important.

    In the end, it is not about big long words and short simple words. You will use both, of course.

    Your task as a writer is to either inform or entertain. Both of these forms of writing need clarity and precision but with a sprinkling of surprise.

    Use your extended vocabulary prudently to add some spice to your writing. But do not overdo it.

    Keep your readers in mind. They want to enjoy reading your work, so do not make it painfully challenging for them to read.

    Just because you can spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is not a good reason to use your longest word on every page.

    But the meaning of the word is appropriate for this article. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious means something to say when you have nothing to say.

    Related reading: Morning Suit And Mourning Suit – Are Both Of Them Correct?

    big words — перевод на русский

    Such big words.

    Какие громкие слова.

    Oh, you want big words…

    — О, тебе нужны громкие слова…

    Big words, them.

    Громкие слова.

    ALL THOSE BIG WORDS.

    Такие громкие слова. Она имеет право знать.

    — Screw you. Big words for a little man.

    Громкие слова для карлика несведущего.

    Показать ещё примеры для «громкие слова»…

    Enigmatic is just a big word.

    Загадочная — это просто большие слова.

    My mother always thought bigger words meant something better.

    Моя мама всегда думала большие слова значат что-то большее.

    Such big words for such a small mouth… and a dirty one.

    Какие большие слова, маленький рот и такой грязный.

    Yes, we hung out all weekend and used big words.

    Ага, мы болтали все выходные используя большие слова.

    Big words are for little lawyers.

    Большие слова для маленьких адвокатов.

    Показать ещё примеры для «большие слова»…

    Which in this case is a big, big word meaning…

    ƒлинное длинное слово, которое в нашем случае означает…

    She needs some minor surgery to remove the underlying cause before we can do the… another really big word.

    Ей понадобится небольшая операция, чтобы удалить причину, прежде чем мы сможем… еще одно очень длинное слово.

    That’s a big word, can you spell it?

    Длинное слово. Написать сможешь?

    That’s a big word for ideas taken not from the Bible, but from Aristotle, who lived long before Jesus Christ.

    Ёто длинное слово вз€то не из Ѕиблии, а из трудов јристотел€, который жил задолго до «исуса ‘риста.

    Ooh, big word.

    О, длинное слово.

    Показать ещё примеры для «длинное слово»…

    LOOK, IT’S VERY EASY TO STAND OUTSIDE THROWING ROCKS, BUT PLEASE, DO NOT HAVE THE UNMITIGATED AUDACITY-— 2 VERY BIG WORDS TO QUESTION WHAT I BELIEVE IN, OK?

    Посмотрите, это просто стоять снаружи и забрасывать нас камнями, но пожалуй не стоит проявлять такое исключительное нахальство… вот еще парочка неплохих слов в вопросе о том, что я считаю хорошим?

    I want it to sound smart, but I don’t know any big words or anything.

    Я хочу, чтобы получилось хорошо, но я не знаю умных слов и все такое.

    There were like ten big words in there I didn’t understand.

    Там было еще 10 слов,я не поняла их

    And for the record, Hal, I happen to know what several of those big words meant.

    И, кстати говоря, Хэл, я как раз знаю, что значат некоторые из тех слов.

    Big word.

    Какое слово.

    Показать ещё примеры для «слов»…

    That’s a big word boy.

    Громко сказано, парень.

    What big word!

    Громко сказано.

    Love’s a big word!

    Громко сказано.

    Forever is a big word.

    «Всегда» — громко сказано.

    What big words!

    Громко сказано!

    Показать ещё примеры для «громко сказано»…

    — Does it have any big words?

    — ј сложные слова там есть?

    Sometimes I use big words and I don’t actually know what they mean.

    Иногда я использую сложные слова, но понятия не имею что они значат.

    Williams, you don’t have to bust out the big words to impress me.

    Уильямс, тебе не обязательно красоваться сложными словами ,чтобы впечатлить меня.

    Do you just use big words to make me feel dumb?

    Ты используешь все эти сложные слова, чтобы я почувствовала себя тупой?

    Показать ещё примеры для «сложные слова»…

    Okay, that’s a big word for «now.»

    Говоря проще, они мне нужны сейчас.

    FYI, Carlos, «goo» is a big word for «icky stuff.»

    Для сведения, Карлос, «слизь» это, проще говоря, гнусно.

    But you should just know that I’m gonna be there right next to her every day, using big words saving people’s lives.

    Просто ты должен знать, что я буду рядом с ней каждый день, если говорить возвышенно — спасать человеческие жизни.

    Big words anger me!

    Говори, говори!

    When you use big words, I know that you want something from me.

    Когда ты так говоришь, значит, тебе что-то надо.

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