as in rambling
using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea
his long-winded explanation could have been boiled down to two sentences
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of long-winded
Trump, of course, was rude, untruthful, and excessively, if not quite so egregiously, long-winded in his first term, too.
—
Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
As part of a long-winded court case related to conditions on Rikers, Manhattan Federal Judge Laura Swain has ordered that a receiver — who would oversee the DOC commissioner — should take over control of the notoriously dangerous jail complex.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
Fallujah, Xenotaph Crushing, tuneful and proggy, but never exactly long-winded, Xenotaph, the sixth full-length from San Francisco death-metal outfit Fallujah, is a wonder of balance and precision.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Jane perches on the corner of a kitchen chair, replying succinctly to Luna’s long-winded questions as she’s offered an open box of Ritz, a can of Easy Cheese and a bag of Cheetos in rapid succession.
—Elizabeth B. Kim, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Nov. 2025
Merkley, 69, was joined on the floor at times by a number of his Democratic colleagues, with some of them asking him long-winded questions to lessen the burden.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 22 Oct. 2025
Industry events are often staid affairs, full of long-winded speeches and by-the-numbers performances.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
Perhaps an ode to the cerulean sweater that prompted Priestly's long-winded rant in the original film?
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
An irritating habit of his is to stop by and launch into long-winded stories about some mundane event in his present or past life or to pontificate about a current event.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
As part of a long-winded court case related to conditions on Rikers, Manhattan Federal Judge Laura Swain has ordered that a receiver — who would oversee the DOC commissioner — should take over control of the notoriously dangerous jail complex.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
Fallujah, Xenotaph Crushing, tuneful and proggy, but never exactly long-winded, Xenotaph, the sixth full-length from San Francisco death-metal outfit Fallujah, is a wonder of balance and precision.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Jane perches on the corner of a kitchen chair, replying succinctly to Luna’s long-winded questions as she’s offered an open box of Ritz, a can of Easy Cheese and a bag of Cheetos in rapid succession.
—Elizabeth B. Kim, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Nov. 2025
Merkley, 69, was joined on the floor at times by a number of his Democratic colleagues, with some of them asking him long-winded questions to lessen the burden.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 22 Oct. 2025
Industry events are often staid affairs, full of long-winded speeches and by-the-numbers performances.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
Perhaps an ode to the cerulean sweater that prompted Priestly's long-winded rant in the original film?
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
An irritating habit of his is to stop by and launch into long-winded stories about some mundane event in his present or past life or to pontificate about a current event.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for long-winded
rambling
Adjective
-
Routh then read from a rambling, 20-page statement.—
David Fischer,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Also in the village, with lower prices, the June Lake Villager Motel is a rambling property beneath a vintage mid-century sign.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Long-winded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/long-winded. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
