Synonyms for tautology
All synonyms
Noun
Definitions
- n. 1
Redundant use of words, a pleonasm, an unnecessary and tedious repetition.
It is tautology to say, "Forward Planning".
Related words
- Word family
- tautological
Forms
- Plural
- tautologies → redundancies, repetitions, reiterations, verbosities…
Choose the right word
Pleonasm is the expression of an idea already plainly implied; tautology is the restatement in other words of an idea already stated, or a useless repetition of a word or words. Pleonasm may add emphasis; tautology is always a fault.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- repetition It's repetition that helps you remember something.
- redundancy Tom wasn't eligible for redundancy payment.
- verbosity He was a very kind man, but his verbosity was exasperating.
- pleonasm A black darkness is an example of a pleonasm.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| tautology | steady | |
| repetition | steady | |
| redundancy | steady | |
| reiteration | steady | |
| verbosity | steady | |
| circumlocution | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 8 letters
- pleonasm4
- 9 letters
- iteration4, verbosity
- 10 letters
- repetition4, redundancy4
- 11 letters
- reiteration5, diffuseness
- 14 letters
- circumlocution
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (pleonasm4 = 4 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- tautologie
- Deutsch
- Tautologie