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CEFR C2 — Proficiency

Sesquipedality

Definition

(formal, literary) The use of long words, often in an affected or pretentious way; a tendency to employ words that are unnecessarily complex or obscure. Typically used to describe writing or speech that prioritizes grandiose vocabulary over clarity or simplicity.

Example Sentences

1The novelist's sesquipedality made his writing inaccessible to all but the most erudite readers.
2Is there a fine line between eloquence and sesquipedality, or are they mutually exclusive?
3The professor's lectures were notorious for their sesquipedality, leaving many students bewildered and struggling to keep up.
4Avoid sesquipedality in your academic writing; instead, opt for precise and concise language that effectively communicates your ideas.
5There is a long tradition of sesquipedality in literary criticism, where the use of complex vocabulary is often seen as a hallmark of intellectual sophistication.

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