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

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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

We may surround the subject with a vague and attractive idealistic verbalism, but we come back to this as a starting point.

From Theism or Atheism The Great Alternative by Chapman Cohen

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 William James

The excess of verbalism, indeed, gives the play a sugary and monotonous effect, and its poetry loses connection with character or situation.

From Tragedy by Ashley H. Thorndike

As regards grammatical forms, Vico may be described as an adherent of the great reaction of the Renaissance against scholastic verbalism and formalism.

From Aesthetic as Science of Expression and General Linguistic by Benedetto Croce

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