Synonyms for verbiage
Most common
verbosity circumlocution wordiness prolixity wording phraseology verbalism
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Wordiness — overabundance of words
wordiness, verbosity, circumlocution, prolixity, pleonasm, wordage formal, long-windedness, verboseness, wordishness, overwordiness, surplusage
2. Wording — the manner in which something is expressed in words; word choice
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
Overabundance of words.
We're done drafting our paper except for the final check to see whether any verbiage can be reduced.
- n. 2
The manner in which something is expressed in words; word choice.
Near-synonyms: phrasing; terminology; phraseology
Forms
- Plural
- verbiages → wordinesses, verbosities, circumlocutions, prolixities…
Choose the right word
Verbiage is the use of mere words without thought.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- verbosity He was a very kind man, but his verbosity was exasperating.
- wording I'm not quite happy with the wording of this sentence.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| verbiage | falling | |
| verbosity | steady | |
| circumlocution | steady | |
| wordiness | rising | |
| prolixity | falling | |
| wording | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 7 letters
- wording2, diction2, wordage
- 8 letters
- phrasing2, pleonasm4
- 9 letters
- verbosity, wordiness, prolixity, verbalism
- 10 letters
- surplusage
- 11 letters
- terminology5, phraseology5, verboseness, wordishness
- 13 letters
- overwordiness
- 14 letters
- circumlocution
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (wording2 = 2 syllables).