The word 'sesquipedalian' is an example of the very thing it means.
Source: tatoeba (714657)
Sesquipedalian
/ˌsɛs.kwɪ.pɪˈdeɪ.lɪ.ən/
Synonyms for "sesquipedalian" (50 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (10)
Strong matches (15)
Related words (25)
leadenlengthylexiphanicismlonglong wordlongishlongsomelumberingno end ofpolysyllabicpolysyllablepompousponderousrhetoricalsesquipedalstiffstiltedtallturgidunwieldy
Show 1 more word
without end
Adjective(1 words)
Noun(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: a mile long, awkward, bombastic, cramped, cumbrous.
- Sentence evidence is available for sesquipedalian, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, wordnet.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "sesquipedalian".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "sesquipedalian"
Keep "sesquipedalian" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "sesquipedalian" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "sesquipedalian", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "sesquipedalian" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
2 entriespolysyllabic wordpolysyllable
similar
2 entriesSample sentences
13 total sentences available.
Denying the sesquipedalian is but mere floccinaucinihilipilification.
Source: tatoeba (13579130)
“The fine old fellow,” as a Northern contemporary of ours patronizingly calls him, certainly rolled out his sesquipedalians with a majesty previously unknown, and gave a fine organ-like swell to his full-blow periods;
Source: wiktionary
Fleet-streetese, the so-called English written to sell by the Fleet-streeter (q.v.), or baser sort of journalist: a mixture of sesquipedalians and slang, of phrases worn threadbare and phrases sprung from the kennel;
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 13 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "sesquipedalian"?
Closest matches include a mile long, awkward, bombastic, cramped, cumbrous.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "sesquipedalian"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.