pleonastic

9.9

Using more words than needed, often repeating the same idea

adjective
/ˌpliːəˈnæstɪk/

: pleonástico

In lines 33-34 ("then! /Oh then"), its function is similar: strictly speaking, pleonastic, a redundant repetition, it serves to mark up the progress of the argument.

Examples

In writing, being pleonastic often leads to unclear communication and can frustrate the audience.
Make sure you are not being pleonastic and certainly not trying to deceive your way up on search engines by keyword stuffing.

Blog text (11)
The pleonastic term "relative valuation" fails to describe the special features of this approach sufficiently, since every valuation is in relative terms in the sense that it takes into account at least one alternative course of action.

Academic text (2018)
Shakespeare uses repetitive and pleonastic chiasmus as well to reinforce or suggest the strength of belief.

Academic text (2001)
ANTITHETIC DOUBLET: a word-pair or short phrase-pair of opposed terms, usually coordinated by and or or (cf. pleonastic, range, and simple doublets).

Academic text (1997)
Avoid using pleonastic phrases that repeat the same idea unnecessarily, as they can confuse readers.
The author's pleonastic style made the text longer than it needed to be, adding little value to the message.

Synonyms

redundant

vspleonastic

49 5.1

More than needed and not useful because it repeats something

is specifically about using extra words that repeat the same idea

long-winded

vspleonastic

18 5.8

Saying or writing more words than needed and taking too long

focuses on repeating the same idea rather than only being long

wordy

vspleonastic

8 3.7

Using more words than needed makes the meaning hard to understand

emphasizes repeating the same idea with extra words

repetitious

vspleonastic

6 5.1

Showing the same thing again and again in a boring way

focuses on repeating the same idea using extra words

duplicative

vspleonastic

3 7.0

Doing the same thing again when it is not needed

is verbal excess that repeats meaning inside phrases

tautological

vspleonastic

2 8.3

Saying the same thing again using different words

is broader and uses extra words rather than exact repetition

prolix

vspleonastic

Formal

1 9.5

Using too many words so it is hard to follow

puts emphasis on repeating the same idea rather than mere length

tautologic

vspleonastic

9.9

Saying the same thing twice in different words

is broader and uses extra words rather than exact repetition

tautologous

vspleonastic

9.9

Saying the same thing twice in different words without adding new information

is broader and uses extra words rather than exact repetition

periphrastic

vspleonastic

Literature

9.9

To use more words than needed in speech or writing to say something simple

is about needless repetition rather than indirectness or roundabout style

circumlocutious

vspleonastic

9.9

Using more words than needed to say what you mean in a roundabout way

is about needless repetition rather than deliberate vagueness

Antonyms

concise

37 4.2

Using few words to give important information clearly

terse

12 7.0

Using few words and sounding unfriendly or abrupt

How Redundant

tautological

2 8.3

pleonastic

9.9

redundant

49 5.1

concise

37 4.2

Surface Forms

pleonastic positive

Morphology

pleonastic = pleonasm (opaque) = pleonasm + ic

The adjective is formed from the rare noun 'pleonasm' plus the suffix '-ic'; the root and combining form are not familiar to typical learners, so the meaning cannot be reliably inferred from parts.

Etymology

Pleonastic comes from the Greek root pleon, which means 'more', and from the related word pleonasm meaning 'extra words'. So a pleonastic phrase uses 'more' words than needed and is 'redundant'.