A word that means you use big words

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

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Laurel

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asked Apr 2, 2020 at 15:48

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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

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jsheeranjsheeran

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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.»

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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.

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  • #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

    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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    Предложения с «use big words»

    Did the people with your daddy use big words ?

    А люди употребляли большие слова в разговоре с папой?

    You put on airs, use big words like your rich, snobby friends.

    Ты важничаешь, используешь громкие слова как твои богатые, чванливые друзья.

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

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

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

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

    We use the word respect to mean something a woman shows a man but often not something a man shows a woman.

    Мы используем слово уважение, говоря о том, что женщина проявляет к мужчине, но реже — о том, что мужчина оказывает женщине.

    I know a woman who hates domestic work, she just hates it, but she pretends that she likes it, because she’s been taught that to be good wife material she has to be — to use that Nigerian word — very homely.

    Одна моя знакомая ненавидит работу по дому, вот просто ненавидит, и всё, но она делает вид, что ей нравится, потому что её научили, что, чтобы быть хорошей женой, она должна быть, как говорят в Нигерии, очень домашней.

    Stefanie and I spent one year collecting our data manually to force us to focus on the nuances that computers cannot gather — or at least not yet — using data also to explore our minds and the words we use, and not only our activities.

    Мы со Стефани целый год собирали данные вручную для того, чтобы сосредоточиться на нюансах, которые не соберёт компьютер, по крайней мере пока не соберёт, использовали данные для изучения особенностей мышления, используемых слов и не только этого.

    And we use that word to talk about the internet: something not real.

    И мы используем это слово по отношению к интернету: что — то нереальное.

    She’d actually use those words with clients.

    Она использовала именно эти слова в переговорах с клиентами.

    Now, I’m not sure if I would use any of these words as I go about my day, but I’m really glad they exist.

    Я не уверен, пригодятся ли мне эти слова в повседневной жизни, но я рад, что они существуют.

    I think a lot of us feel boxed in by how we use these words .

    Думаю, многие из нас чувствуют себя зажатыми в рамки того, как мы пользуемся этими словами .

    Because people have different preferences for the words they use.

    Потому что у разных людей разные лингвистические предпочтения.

    Where the blanks are in medicine can be just as important as the words that we use in these conversations.

    Местá, где в медицине пробелы, могут быть так же важны, как слова , которые мы говорим в этих беседах.

    What words to use?

    Какими словами об этом рассказывать?

    I use the word soul to describe that spark, because it’s the only word in English that comes close to naming what each baby brought into the room.

    Чтобы описать эту искру, я использую слово душа, потому что это единственное слово в английском, приближённо называющее то, что каждое дитя привносит в мир.

    So that’s not quite right either, because there is a term that’s already accepted and in use, which was the word muraqib which means a controller.

    Но это также не совсем верно, потому что есть термин, который уже принят и используется , по — арабски muraqib означает контролёр.

    And we defined these terms, and we worked with the Arab colleagues and came to an agreement about what would be the appropriate word to use in Arabic.

    Мы дали определение этим терминам, и, работая с арабскими коллегами, мы договорились о том, какое именно слово будет подходящим на арабском языке.

    It’s a word we use a lot, without always thinking about what it really means and how it works in different contexts of our lives.

    Мы часто пользуемся этим словом , не всегда задумываясь над его значением в разных жизненных ситуациях.

    Sportscasters use these code words in all of the sports.

    Комментаторы используют это кодовое слово во всех видах спорта.

    I can’t think of a specific story, that says, how they’re Scottish, but they look very much Scottish, and speak with a very strong accent so much, so that, I have a girlfriend from South Africa, who, of course, also speaks English, and she has a hard time understanding them, because their accent is so strong, and they use a lot of Scottish words , that we don’t use in Canada.

    Я не могу вспомнить что — то особенное, характеризующее их, как шотландцев, но они выглядят как типичные шотландцы, и говорят с очень сильным акцентом, настолько сильным, что, У меня есть подруга из Южной Африки, которая, конечно, тоже говорит по — английски, ей очень трудно понимать их, потому что у них очень сильный акцент, и они используют много шотландских слов, которые мы в Канаде не употребляем.

    Do you think it would be better to use your own words ?

    Как вы думаете, было бы лучше использовать свои собственные слова ?

    The writer of the song doesn’t use the word love, but he calls her sweet Mollie Malone, so probably he loved her.

    Автор этой песни не использует слово лю­бовь, но он называет ее сладкая Молли Мэлон, наверное, он любил ее.

    An advantage of the major system is that it is possible to use a computer to automatically translate the number into a set of words .

    Преимущество основной системы заключается в том, что можно использовать компьютер для автоматического перевода числа в набор слов.

    It’s not exactly the word I’d use.

    Это не совсем то слово , которое я бы использовал .

    It is very hard to create a new brand name, as more than 365,000 brands were registered in October, 2000 by American Patent Organization, whereas Oxford dictionary consists of 615,100 words , so some companies use brand stretching — using a leader-brand to launch a new product in a new category.

    Очень трудно создать новый бренд, так как более 365 тысяч марок было зарегистрировано в октябре 2000 года Патентной организации США, в то время как Оксфордский словарь состоит из 615 100 слов, поэтому некоторые компании используют расширение фирменного наименования — сначала для лидера марки, а потом для запуска нового продукта в новой категории.

    I can’t do that if I put into the mouth of the character words that he would never use; it would sound as forced and phony as a goat spouting Greek.

    И я не могу вложить в уста своего героя слова , которые ему не свойственны.

    Trevize started slightly at the child’s unexpected use of Galactic, but the word had the sound of having been memorized.

    Тревиза слегка озадачило использование ребенком Галактического, но слово было звуком, который можно запомнить.

    I use the infernal word for want of a better, and by it I don’t mean learning.

    Я употребляю это дьявольское слово лишь за неимением лучшего.

    You use random words that will distract them from the original question.

    Ты используешь случайные слова , которые отвлекают тебя от начального вопроса.

    I heard her use those very words without the slightest shred of irony or misgiving.

    Она говорила мне это без даже намека на иронию или ложь.

    Snooze. But only for a while, of course You never use words you can’t afford A house of cards and it’s a sign.

    Но только ненадолго, конечно Ты никогда не используешь слова , которые не сможешь позволить себе Карточный домик, и это знак.

    In other words , you want to use drugs to solve a case.

    Другими словам , ты хочешь раскрыть дело при помощи наркотиков?

    Such wording would also be compatible with the remainder of the paragraph 13, under which Parties may use alternative methodologies.

    Такая формулировка будет совместимой и с остальной частью пункта 13, в соответствии с которой Сторонам разрешается пользоваться различными методологиями.

    She must prove that the money paid for land was her own before marriage; in other words , she could not use her husband’s money or their joint assets to buy land.

    Она должна доказать, что деньги, уплаченные ею за землю, принадлежали ей до замужества; иными словами , она не может использовать деньги мужа или их совместные активы для покупки земли.

    The billions of our people in every continent have no use for empty words .

    Миллиардам наших людей на каждом континенте без надобности пустые посулы.

    I think it is a huge mistake to use that particular word.

    Я считаю огромной ошибкой использовать именно это слово .

    Grayson, that is a word that only women are allowed to use When they’re really angry with another woman.

    Грейсон, такими словами пользуются только женщины, когда они очень злятся на другую женщину.

    No matter what words you use, it all means the same thing.

    Выбор слов не важен, все они означают одно.

    When you want to intimidate someone, don’t use so many words .

    Когда Вы хотите запугать кого — то, не используйте так много слов.

    The words were meant to help distinguish terrorist activity from other forms of criminality intended to intimidate people by the use of violence.

    Цель данной формулировки заключается в том, чтобы отделить террористическую деятельность от других форм преступной деятельности, направленных на запугивание людей с помощью применения силы.

    What other words would you use to describe me?

    А какими еще словами ты бы мог описать меня?

    And it’s exhilarating and breathtaking and I don’t know what other words to use to describe it.

    И от этого бодрит и перехватывает дыхание, не знаю, какими ещё словами это можно описать.

    Any other words you’d use to describe how you feel now?

    Как еще вы бы описали свое соотояние?

    Any other words you’d use to describe how you feel now?

    я могу контролировать свои дейотви€.

    There are many words I could use to describe my country, and each and every one would fit perfectly in its own manner.

    Есть много слов, которые я мог бы использовать для описания моей страны, и каждое из них по — своему прекрасно подошло бы для этого.

    Of course, he didn’t use so many words .

    К онечно, он выразился короче.

    And I usually don’t use so many words to say stuff that little, but do you get it at all?

    И я обычно не использую столько слов, чтобы сказать такую простую вещь, …но ты вообще меня поняла?

    Use the word list to always start with a defined set of technical terms for the word completion feature.

    Используйте список слов, чтобы всегда иметь определенный набор технических терминов для функции автозавершения слов.

    And it’s exhilarating and breathtaking and I don’t know what other words to use to describe it.

    И от этого бодрит и перехватывает дыхание, не знаю, какими ещё словами это можно описать.

    Any other words you’d use to describe how you feel now?

    Как еще вы бы описали свое соотояние?

    Any other words you’d use to describe how you feel now?

    я могу контролировать свои дейотви€.

    When we talk of cars, we do not use the word commodities.

    Когда мы говорим об автомобилях, мы не употребляем слова «товары».

    And the Wolfram stuff — I was taking notes and I was writing down all the search words I could use, because I think that’s going to go on in my autism lectures.

    И материал о Вольфрам Альфа, который я конспектировала и записывала все ключевые слова , которые можно будет использовать для поиска, потому что я собираюсь использовать это в моих лекциях по аутизму.

    Tip: You can also use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl + f (Windows, Linux, and Chrome OS) or ⌘ + f (Mac) to quickly find a word or phrase.

    Совет. Чтобы быстро открыть строку поиска по странице, нажмите Ctrl + F (Windows, Linux и Chrome OS) или ? + F (Mac OS).

    I use the word power broadly, because even more important than military and indeed economic power is the power of ideas, the power of compassion, and the power of hope.

    Я широко использую слово ‘власть, потому что важнее военной и, несомненно, экономической власти — власть идей, власть сострадания и власть надежды.

    For example, you can use a number like 32, a comparison like >32, a cell like B4, or a word like apples.

    Например, критерий может быть выражен как 32, >32, В4, яблоки или 32.

    For a short list of words or phrases, you can use the Exchange admin center.

    Короткий список слов или фраз можно создать в Центре администрирования Exchange.

    For more information, see Key tasks: Create and use a Word template by using the Office Add-ins or Key tasks: Create and share an Excel template by using the Office Add-ins.

    Дополнительные сведения см. в разделе Основные задачи. Создание и использование шаблона Word с помощью надстроек Office или Основные задачи: Создание и совместное использование шаблона Excel с помощью надстроек Office.

    Use the F-word only when it’s appropriate, like when screaming at vandals.

    Используйте слово Ф только тогда, когда оно уместно, например, когда вы кричите на вандалов.

    If you use a third-party publishing platform, like WordPress or Drupal, use one of our plugins for the easiest setup and maintenance.

    Если вы используете стороннюю платформу для публикации (например, WordPress или Drupal), воспользуйтесь одним из наших плагинов. Они максимально упрощают настройку и обслуживание.

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