by Kevin Burton
A friend in college called herself “Madam Loquacia” to make light of the fact that she talked a lot. Now that’s what I call making the most of your adjectives!
(See number 8 on our list below.)
Strong muscles help a person who is blessed with them do work. Words also do work for us in the art of communication.
But just as those with bulging muscles can appear grotesque when they are simply showing off, so can speakers and writers be off-putting when they flex their vocabulary.
You know it when you hear it: big words thrust upon the listener, Preening, longing to be noticed.
So what follows is a list of adjectives compiled by Dictionary Scoop. The dictionary calls these adjectives rare, but I think only some of them are. You make the call. Are these words useful for plain old communication in everyday speech or are they only deployed to make the speaker sound educated?
1–Comely
If someone uses this adjective to describe you, lucky you! “Comely” means attractive or appealing, often in appearance, but it can also refer to something pleasant in general. It’s a refined way to say someone is nice to look at.
2–Irksome
Did you have that classmate in school who was always bothering others? Or maybe you know someone who makes daily life a bit more difficult? The perfect word for those people might be “irksome,” an unusual and expressive way to describe someone or something irritating.
3–Sagacious
Life is full of complicated situations that call for wise decision-making. In times like these, it’s great to have a “sagacious” person by your side. This adjective describes someone wise and insightful, who shows good judgment. But it’s not just for people. Advice or actions can be sagacious too.
4–Parsimonious
A person who always prefers to save money or spend as little as possible can be described as “parsimonious.” This adjective refers to someone who is careful and often meticulous about their spending, usually choosing to save for other priorities.
5–Munificent
This word is the opposite of parsimonious. “Munificent” describes extremely generous people, whether with money, gifts, or simple acts of kindness. People like that deserve our gratitude!
6–Contumacious
Do your kids or grandkids refuse to listen to you? Try teaching them this word. While “contumacious” is often used in formal or legal settings—like in court—it can describe anyone who is openly defiant and rebellious, refusing to follow orders, rules, or regulations.
7–Hubristic
Pride and arrogance aren’t exactly the most appealing traits, but there’s a fitting adjective to describe such traits: “hubristic.” It comes from the Greek word hubris, often used in ancient tragedies to describe excessive pride that generally led to a character’s downfall.
8–Loquacious
Do you love to talk non-stop? Are you the one who takes the mic at weddings to say a few words? If so, “loquacious” is the perfect word for you. This adjective describes someone who talks a lot—someone who wouldn’t think twice about chatting all the way up 10 floors in an elevator with a total stranger!
9–Salubrious
When something is described as “salubrious,” it means it’s beneficial to your health and well-being. This could be anything from the food you eat to a daily habit, a clean environment, or even a positive relationship. In short, if it’s good for your health, it’s salubrious!
10–Petulant
We all know that one friend or family member who gets irritated and moody over the smallest things. If you do, too—or if you are that person—”petulant” is the perfect word to describe them.
Contumacious? Yeah, that sounds like a lawyer word. No thanks on that one! I can deal with the rest of the list. What do you say? How many of these words are useful in ordinary speech?
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