sententious

American  

[sen-ten-shuhs] / sɛnˈtɛn ʃəs /

adjective

1. abounding in pithy aphorisms or maxims.

   a sententious book.

2. given to excessive moralizing; self-righteous.

   Synonyms:

   moralistic, sanctimonious, didactic, preachy

3. given to or using pithy sayings or maxims.

   a sententious poet.

4. of the nature of a maxim; pithy.

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sententious British  

/ sɛnˈtɛnʃəs /

adjective

1. characterized by or full of aphorisms, terse pithy sayings, or axioms

2. constantly using aphorisms, etc

3. tending to indulge in pompous moralizing

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Other Word Forms

• nonsententious
  adjective
• nonsententiousness
  noun
• sententiosity
  noun
• sententiously
  adverb
• sententiousness
  noun
• unsententious
  adjective
• unsententiousness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of sententious

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin sententiōsus “meaningful, pithy”; see sentence, -ous

Explanation

If you speak in sententious phrases, your listeners are probably falling asleep, as your speech is pompous and pretentious, and full of moralistic babble. When sententious first appeared in English — back in the late Middle Ages — it meant "full of wisdom," but now it usually has a negative sense, meaning heavy handed and self-important. The sententious blowhard makes people laugh, and you can probably think of at least three cartoon characters who fit the bill — often a politician or minister who drones on and on, oblivious to the fact that his audience is snickering or trying to sneak out.

Example Sentences

On the other hand, the sententious segues and gassed-up encomiums to whatever B-list star was arriving onstage were eliminated.

From New York Times • Jun. 12, 2023

This is the foggy lens through which our most sententious pundits are—week after week—doggedly committed to viewing the state of American society.

From Slate • Mar. 2, 2018

What’s more, Charles’s sententious interpretation of noblesse oblige leaves him open to the charge of overstepping the constitutional boundaries of his position.

From The New Yorker • Apr. 3, 2017

It’s a lot easier to sell the politics of “Redemption Song” or “Blowin’ in the Wind” if you’re going to make sententious speech in defense of the band you’re welcoming into the building.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 8, 2015

We are wearied by the constant effort to write up to the tragic opportunity for a heightened and sententious eloquence.

From Tragedy by Thorndike, Ashley H.