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turgidity

turgidity

1 9.9
Very fancy or showy language that does not sound honest and is hard to understand
  • noun
  • /tɜrˈdʒɪdəti/
  • Formal
translation icon : turgencia
  • Many critics noted the turgidity of the speech, which detracted from its intended message.

Examples

  • My own doctoral thesis was guilty of nearly every sin of which I often accuse others, starting with turgidity and smug obfuscation of the evident.

    Academic text (2017)
  • The report was criticized for its turgidity, making it hard for the audience to follow the key points.

  • This is a positive remedy for weariness... ...turgidity of the bowels and-

  • Von Eberkopf's speeches tend to parody the polysyllabic turgidity of much German transcendentalist philosophy.

    Academic text (1995)
  • The author's use of turgidity in his writing made it difficult for readers to grasp his main ideas.

Synonyms

rhetoric
vsturgidity
265 7.0

Words that sound impressive but have little real meaning

is pompous but has less explicit persuasive intent
pomposity
vsturgidity
6 7.7

A way of acting like you are very important that annoys other people

is focused on pompous tone but not only in language
bombast
vsturgidity
4 9.4

Speech or writing that uses large, showy words but has little real meaning

is similar but can be less loudly inflated in style
verbosity
vsturgidity
1 7.3

Using more words than needed when speaking or writing

is about pompous, inflated style rather than just word length
prolixity
vsturgidity
  • Formal
1 9.9

A habit of using too many words that makes people bored

focuses on pompous, ornate expression rather than mere length
wordiness
vsturgidity
1 4.8

Using more language than needed in writing or speech

is pompous and inflated, adding showy but unclear language
turgidness
vsturgidity
  • Formal
9.6

Speech or writing that is too flowery and showy

is the same meaning but used as the more formal label
grandiloquence
vsturgidity
  • Literature
9.9

Speech or writing that uses big, fancy words to sound important

is pompous but may be less about impressive word choice
fustian
vsturgidity
  • Literature
9.9

Language that tries to sound important but has little meaning

is similar yet sometimes more literary and old fashioned
floridness
vsturgidity
  • Formal
8.9

The use of very fancy, detailed language or style that feels too much

is pompous in tone rather than merely decorative or pretty
prolixness
vsturgidity
  • Formal
9.9

The use of too many words that makes speech or writing long and boring

is about pompous style not merely excessive length

Antonyms

152 3.0

How easy it is to understand what someone says or writes

63 1.7

Being easy to understand and not complicated

1 5.5

Saying something clearly with few words

How Pompous

grandiloquence
  • Literature
9.9
turgidity
  • Formal
1 9.9
plainness
1 3.7

Surface Forms

turgidity singular
turgidities plural

Morphology

turgidity = turgid (semi-transparent) = turgid + ity

Formed regularly from the adjective 'turgid' plus the nominalizing suffix '-ity', but 'turgid' is a rare, formal/Latin-derived word so many learners will not know the base.

Etymology

The word turgidity comes from the Latin root turgere, meaning 'to swell', and the word turgid once meant 'swollen'. So turgidity describes language that is 'inflated' or 'puffed up', where the words are so swollen they hide the real meaning.