prolix
Americanadjective
-
extended to great, unnecessary, or tedious length; long and wordy.
- Synonyms:
- verbose, protracted
-
(of a person) given to speaking or writing at great or tedious length.
- Synonyms:
- verbose
adjective
-
(of a speech, book, etc) so long as to be boring; verbose
-
indulging in prolix speech or writing; long-winded
Synonym Usage
See wordy.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of prolix
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin prōlixus “extended, long,” equivalent to prō- pro- 1 + -lixus, akin to līquī “to flow”; see liquor
Explanation
A book that feels like it is several hundred pages longer than it needs to be is prolix. The word simply means that something has too many words and goes on too long. To avoid being called prolix, we'll keep this short. Prolix means using more words than necessary. For a less formal word choice try wordy, verbose, long-winded or drawn out.
Vocabulary lists containing prolix
The Scarlet Letter
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100 SAT words Beginning with "P"
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Talk the Talk: Synonyms for "Wordy"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The world premiere, “Have We Met?!,” choreographed by Juliano Nunes, is a 33-minute, two-part, prolix affair for two featured couples.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2025
A certain type of actor thrives in these prolix circumstances.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2021
On airplanes, she said, she could quickly shut down the annoying small talk of prolix seatmates when they asked, “What do you do?”
From Washington Post ● Jul. 13, 2021
Netflix, at least, entertained this possibility, and the result is “Army of the Dead,” a prolix heist-horror hybrid whose undeceased are a sight more fun than its living.
From New York Times ● May 20, 2021
This trick, of course, makes a writer formidably prolix.
From Views and Reviews by James, Henry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
