Definition of VERBOSE
VERBOSE Adjective
Verbose is an adjective that describes the use of more words than necessary to convey meaning, resulting in lengthy, wordy, and often redundant communication. It implies an excessive and sometimes tedious elaboration in speech or writing.
As an Adjective (Wordiness and Excessive Elaboration): As an adjective, verbose signifies a tendency toward using an abundance of words. It often carries a negative connotation, suggesting that the communication could be made more concise and effective with fewer words.
Wordy Communication: Verbose communication involves the use of many words to express ideas that could be conveyed more succinctly. This wordiness can make the message harder to follow and may detract from the clarity and impact of the information being shared.
Examples in Speech: In speech, verbose individuals may provide long-winded explanations, include unnecessary details, or repeat points excessively. For example, a verbose speaker might spend several minutes elaborating on a simple concept that could be explained in a few sentences.
Examples in Writing: In writing, verbosity can manifest as overly complex sentences, redundant phrases, and superfluous descriptions. For example, a verbose writer might use elaborate language and excessive adjectives to describe something that could be conveyed with straightforward, concise wording.
Causes of Verbosity: Verbosity can result from various factors, including: Desire to Impress: Using elaborate language to sound more knowledgeable or sophisticated. Lack of Clarity: Struggling to convey ideas clearly and concisely. Habitual Behavior: Developing a habit of using more words than necessary in communication. Formal Contexts: Believing that formal or academic settings require more elaborate language.
Impact on Communication: Verbose communication can have several negative impacts, such as: Reduced Clarity: Making it difficult for the audience to understand the main points. Decreased Engagement: Causing the audience to lose interest or become frustrated. Inefficiency: Wasting time and resources by requiring more effort to process the information.
Strategies to Avoid Verbosity: To avoid verbosity, individuals can employ several strategies: Be Concise: Focus on conveying ideas clearly and directly. Edit and Revise: Review and edit communication to remove unnecessary words and phrases. Use Active Voice: Prefer active voice over passive voice to create more concise sentences. Practice Brevity: Make a habit of using fewer words to express ideas without losing meaning.
Positive Aspects of Verbose Communication: While verbosity is often seen negatively, there can be positive aspects in certain contexts: Detail and Richness: Providing detailed descriptions and rich language can enhance storytelling and creative writing. Thorough Explanations: Offering comprehensive explanations can be helpful in educational or instructional settings. Formal and Ceremonial Speech: Verbose language can be appropriate in formal speeches or ceremonies, adding a sense of grandeur and importance.
Psychological Perspective: From a psychological perspective, verbosity may reflect an individual’s cognitive style or communication preference. Some people naturally think and express themselves in more elaborate ways, which can be both a strength and a challenge depending on the context.
Ethical Considerations: Ethically, verbose communication can be problematic if it obscures important information, misleads the audience, or wastes time. Clear and concise communication is generally more ethical as it respects the audience’s time and understanding.
In conclusion, verbose is an adjective that describes the use of an excessive number of words in communication. While verbosity can add detail and richness in certain contexts, it often reduces clarity and engagement. By striving for conciseness and clarity, individuals can improve their communication effectiveness and better convey their ideas. Understanding the causes and impacts of verbosity allows for more mindful and efficient use of language in both speech and writing.
Examples of VERBOSE in a sentence
- The professor’s verbose lecture made it difficult for students to stay engaged.
- The report was criticized for being too verbose, with unnecessary details.
- His verbose explanation only confused the audience further.
- She preferred concise communication over verbose and lengthy emails.
- The verbose document was edited to be more succinct and to the point.
- The verbose nature of the legal language made the contract challenging to understand.
- His verbose style of writing often led to lengthy essays and papers.
- The presentation was praised for avoiding verbose content and focusing on key points.
Origin of VERBOSE
The term verbose has an interesting etymological background, tracing its roots from Latin to its current usage in describing overly wordy communication.
Semantic Context: Verbose describes a style of communication that uses more words than necessary, often leading to excessive length and detail.
- Etymological Roots: The word “verbose” comes from the Latin word “verbosus,” which is derived from “verbum,” meaning “word.” “Verbosus” literally translates to “full of words” or “wordy.”
- Introduction to English: “Verbose” entered the English language in the early 17th century, maintaining its Latin meaning of being excessively wordy or talkative.
- Historical Development: Initially used to describe any form of excessive wordiness, verbose has evolved to specifically denote written or spoken communication that is unnecessarily long-winded, often in contexts such as writing, speeches, and academic discourse.
- Modern Application: Today, verbose is used in both casual and formal contexts to critique or describe communication styles that are overly detailed or lengthy. It highlights the importance of conciseness and clarity in effective communication.
The term verbose illustrates how a concept from Latin about being “full of words” has evolved into a critical term used to describe overly lengthy or wordy expressions in modern communication.
Synonyms
- Wordy
- Long-winded
- Expansive
- Talkative
- Prolix
- Detailed
- Redundant
- Lengthy
Antonyms
- Concise
- Brief
- Succinct
- Terse
- Pithy
- Compact
- Summary
- To-the-point
Related
- Elocution
- Articulation
- Explication
- Narration
- Description
- Explanation
- Overelaboration
- Repetition
🌐 🇬🇧 VERBOSE in other languages
| Spanish 🇪🇸 | Verboso |
| French 🇫🇷 | Verbeux |
| German 🇩🇪 | Ausführlich |
| Chinese (simpl) 🇨🇳 | 冗长的 |
| Chinese (trad) 🇨🇳 | 冗長 |
| Italian 🇮🇹 | Verbo |
| Portuguese 🇵🇹 | Verboso |
| Dutch 🇳🇱 | Uitgebreid |
| Swedish 🇸🇪 | Mångordig |
| Norwegian 🇳🇴 | Utførlig |
| Finnish 🇫🇮 | Monisanainen |
| Romanian 🇷🇴 | Verbos |
| Polish 🇵🇱 | Gadatliwy |
| Hungarian 🇭🇺 | Bőbeszédű |
| Czech 🇨🇿 | Mnohomluvné |
| Bulgarian 🇧🇬 | Многословен |
| Ukrainian 🇺🇦 | Багатослівний |
| Russian 🇷🇺 | Подробный |
| Turkish 🇹🇷 | Ayrıntılı |
| Azerbaijani 🇦🇿 | Müfəssəl |
| Armenian 🇦🇲 | Բազմախոս |
| Arabic 🇸🇦 | مطول |
| Hebrew 🇮🇱 | מִלוּלִי |
| Urdu 🇵🇰 | لفظی |
| Farsi/Persian 🇮🇷 | پرمخاطب |
| Hindi 🇮🇳 | वीटो |
| Bengaleli/se 🇧🇩 | ভার্বোস |
| Marathi 🇮🇳 | वर्बोस |
| Telugu 🇮🇳 | వెర్బోస్ |
| Tamil 🇮🇳 | வாய்மொழி |
| Gujarati 🇮🇳 | વર્બોઝ |
| Kannada 🇮🇳 | ಮೌಖಿಕ |
| Odia (Orya) 🇮🇳 | କ୍ରିୟା |
| Malayalam 🇮🇳 | വാചാലമായ |
| Punjabi 🇮🇳 | ਵਰਬੋਸ |
| Sinhala/ese 🇱🇰 | වාචික |
| Nepali 🇳🇵 | वर्बोस |
| Burmese 🇲🇲 | စကားရှည်သည်။ |
| Thai 🇹🇭 | ละเอียด |
| Vietnamese 🇻🇳 | dài dòng |
| Malay 🇲🇾 | Berkata-kata |
| Indonesian 🇮🇩 | Bertele-tele |
| Tagalog 🇵🇭 | Verbose |
| Japanese 🇯🇵 | 冗長 |
| Korean 🇰🇷 | 말 수가 많은 |
| Oromo 🇪🇹 | Dubbiin kan dubbatu |
| Somali 🇸🇴 | Hadal afka ah |
| Amharic 🇪🇹 | አነጋገር |
| Swahili 🇹🇿 | Kitenzi |
| Yoruba 🇳🇬 | Ọrọ-ọrọ |
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