preciousness
1
8.0
- noun
- /ˈprɛʃəsnəs/
- That would have sounded like an exaggeration in the direction of preciousness to the college-teacher boy before he had begun to have a rugmaker inhabit him.
Examples
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They say that death and limits give meaning to our lives, and if we were to live forever, our lives would lose their urgency and their preciousness.
Blog text (18) -
As a result, his art captured "the freshness and naturalness of our origins," rather than the "affectation and preciousness" of Italian Mannerism.
Academic text (1992) -
I (like everyone) sometimes hear myself qualified (as a writer) with intentionally depreciative adjectives: accusations of "preciousness," of "theoretical coquetry," of muffling, etc.
Academic text (2005) -
I will share my system with you in a minute, as soon as I try to rebut the charge that self-reference in pop music does not escape the curses of preciousness, self-regard, cliché, and portentousness it is subject to elsewhere.
Academic text (2004) -
Many people find the author's style to be full of unnecessary preciousness that detracts from the story.
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The film's dialogue was criticized for its preciousness, making it feel artificial and forced.
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Art critics often point out the preciousness in modern art that seems to prioritize style over substance.
Synonyms
1
7.2
A lot of extra decoration that looks showy
1
9.9
A way of dressing and behaving that is very showy and vain
1
9.9
A style that is too fussy and fancy in speech or writing
Antonyms
How Affected
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
The word preciousness can also mean being overly refined or fussy; this comes from how precious was used for things or manners that seemed very delicate or showy, so preciousness describes a style or behaviour that feels too careful or affected.