verbalism

American  

[vur-buh-liz-uhm] / ˈvɜr bəˌlɪz əm /

noun

1. a verbal expression, as a word or phrase.

2. the way in which something is worded; choice of words; phrasing.

3. a phrase or sentence having little or no meaning.

4. a use of words considered as predominating over or obscuring ideas or reality; verbiage.

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verbalism British  

/ ˈvɜːbəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. a verbal expression; phrase or word

2. an exaggerated emphasis on the importance of words by the uncritical acceptance of assertions in place of explanations, the use of rhetorical style, etc

3. a statement lacking real content, esp a cliché

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Etymology

Origin of verbalism

First recorded in 1780–90; verbal + -ism

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

verbalism

Through the echoes of the new verbalism, one can sense the distress of that crystal spirit, George Orwell.

From Time Magazine Archive

In Mr. Bradley's difficulty in seeing how sugar can be sweet intellectualism outstrips itself and becomes openly a sort of verbalism.

From A Pluralistic Universe Hibbert Lectures at Manchester College on the Present Situation in Philosophy by James, William

While this operatic verbalism with its faults and merits cannot of course be assigned wholly to Peele, he seems to have been in the drama one of its earliest and most influential purveyors.

From Tragedy by Thorndike, Ashley H.

In the place of book-learning, which disgusts him by its smell of the closet, its continued prating of Aristotle, and its self-exhaustion in useless verbalism, Sanchez desires to substitute a knowledge of things.

From History of Modern Philosophy From Nicolas of Cusa to the Present Time by Falckenberg, Richard

The impotent verbalism of the formal treatment of judgment appears in another way when the question is raised how a 'true' judgment is to be distinguished from a 'false.'

From Pragmatism by Murray, D. L.