Another word for 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.

• #3

A compulsive polysyllabricator?
.
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• #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? )

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

Thanks,
LRV

• #8

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

• #11

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

• #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…

• #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.

• #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?

• #16

Yes, Mary, welcome to the forums.!

An excellent first post if I may say so.

Kind regards,
LRV

• #17

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

• #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!»

• #19

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

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.

LRV

• #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!

• #21

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

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?

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 (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.

LRV

• #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.

• #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!

• #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

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

• #34

hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia = Fear of big words

I thought it was hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia .

• #35

I thought it was hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia .

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

• #36

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

• #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.

• #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.

• #43

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

• #44

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

big words — перевод на русский

Показать ещё примеры для «громкие слова»…

Показать ещё примеры для «большие слова»…

Показать ещё примеры для «длинное слово»…

Показать ещё примеры для «слов»…

Показать ещё примеры для «громко сказано»…

Показать ещё примеры для «сложные слова»…

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?

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?

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?

“”Edd: I agree, Ed. I’ve always wished Eddy could communicate in a tone of voice that didn’t rattle the timbers of every house in a four-block vicinity.» Eddy: And what about you, Mr. Encyclopediac? I bet I could stop yelling way before you could stop using those big fancy-schmancy words of yours!

—Ed, Edd n Eddy, «All Eds Are Off»

«Big words» (a.k.a., sesquipedalianism or argumentum ad sesquipedalia verba) is a common snarl word used by people too lazy to get a dictionary. Its implication is that anything that can’t be described in plain English is not worth talking about at all, which makes for considerable difficulty for the speaker being challenged when the «big word» is pretty much the only available word to describe what’s going on. Sesquipedalianism is, at its core, the act of using long words, especially habitually. It can be done for a variety of reasons, with one of the common ones being because you believe that the words are more precise. Sesquipedalianism can also be used in an attempt to make oneself sound more educated, or like one knows what one is talking about. Cranks are a common user of it in that way. Sesquipedalianism, whether argumentum ad sesquipedalia verba or not, has an increased tendency to become word salad.

Anybody familiar with any kind of jargon — and jargon that leaves outsiders stumped exists even in blue collar jobs — will know that «big words» are just damned useful. Saying «black hole» is just much handier than having to explain «Extremely dense object of matter collapsing into itself with a gravity so high not even light can escape it» every single time you mention it and even subtly getting that explanation wrong for the sake of brevity. Unfortunately, many «big words» are Greco-Roman and «plainspoken folks» have an irrational aversion to Latin.

On the other hand, «big words» can also, if properly misused, be a powerfully distracting form of bullshit, thus making the argument against somewhat understandable if misguided (after all, such apparent populism certainly sounds good to confused audiences, even if it’s really a veiled appeal to stupidity). As above, the proper solution is to invest in an appropriate dictionary.

Etymology[edit]

Sesquipedalianism comes from a Latin adjective, sēsquipedālis, which means unnaturally large or long, plus suffixes to make it the right form of the word.^[1]. One who uses sesquipedalianisms is either a sesquipedalian or a sesquipedalianist. The word was likely first used in the Ars Poetica of the Roman poet Horace.^[2]

Argumentum ad sesquipedalia verba[edit]

The argumentum ad sesquipedalia verba, literally the argument from excessively long words, is an occasional tactic of cranks and their ilk. It is related to Quidquid latine dictum, altum videtur, in that many sesquipedalianisms are words from Latin, or Greek, or, upon occasion, other foreign languages. Very few of them are primarily of Germanic origin (e.g., Schadenfreude), though some come from German. The argumentum ad sesquipedalia verba is often an appeal to intellect or an Appeal to novelty. Argumentum ad sesquipedalia verba can be considered a kind of word magic, though not the common kind highlighted in the entry.

Examples[edit]

These are some people who are noted sesquipedalians to some degree:

• Scott Alexander
• William F. Buckley, «Sesquipedalian Spark of Right»^[3]
• Jacob Rees-Mogg, held the record for using the longest word in the UK parliament, «floccinaucinihilipilification»^[4]
• Alan Sokal

See also[edit]

Want to read this in another language?[edit]

کلمات قلمبه سلمبه in Farsi

External links[edit]

• See the Wikipedia article on Verbosity.
• Sesquipedalian Loquaciousness on TVTropes

References[edit]