Asked by: Gori Granjal
asked in category: hobbies and interests Last Updated: 21st October, 2020
Definition of big word. : a difficult word used to try to impress someone You don’t need to use big words to make your point.
Read full answer here. Likewise, what is a big word?
sesquipedalian. Use the adjective sesquipedalian to describe a word that’s very long and multisyllabic. Each of those long words is referred to as a sesquipedalia. Antidisestablishmentarianism is a sesquipedalia: in fact it’s the longest non-coined and nontechnical word in the English language.
Secondly, what’s a big word for good? great, satisfying, exceptional, positive, acceptable, satisfactory, valuable, superb, marvelous, bad, wonderful, favorable, excellent, respectable, honest, useful, talented, efficient, reliable, able.
Likewise, what are the 5 longest words?
The longest words in the dictionary are:
- antidisestablishmentarianism — opposition to the disestablishment of the Church of England — 28 letters.
- floccinaucinihilipilification — the estimation of something as worthless — 29 letters.
- pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis — a supposed lung disease — 45 letters.
What is big English word?
The longest word in any of the major English language dictionaries is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, a word that refers to a lung disease contracted from the inhalation of very fine silica particles, specifically from a volcano; medically, it is the same as silicosis.
: a difficult word used to try to impress someone
You don’t need to use big words to make your point.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
That spirited, curious by the way, a big word, especially for women who are older, remaining curious is going to keep you young to have that curiosity and that sort of spunk and fire.
—
Chloe Melas, CNN, 1 Apr. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘big word.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near big word
Cite this Entry
“Big word.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/big%20word. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.
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Last Updated:
4 Apr 2023
— Updated example sentences
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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?
Continue Learning about English Language Arts
Explain in a easy way whats an adjective?
An Adjective is a word that describes a Noun. (That’s the
simplest definition of Adjective that you’ll be able to find.)
What is the definition of the word integrative?
The English word integrative can mean many things. The biggest
thing that the word integrative means is when something combines
many things into one whole.
What does the slang word ‘idle’ mean?
This is not a slang word anywhere that I can find. The
definition in the dictionary is the only one I have ever seen used
for the word «idle.»
Definition of a word?
The definition of a word is the meaning of that particular word.
For example, the definition of definition is ‘a statement of the
exact meaning of a word, especially in a dictionary.’
What is your personal definition of the word ‘Honesty’?
To do or say the right thing -even when nobody is watching, or will ever know.
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-nuh–nim-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-thruh–pol–uh-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-jen–uh-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-dek–uh-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.