1
as in scholarly
marked by or given to showing knowledge in a showy way
The writing was overly complex and pedantic, which made it nearly impossible to understand for anyone but a specialist. The speech was thoroughly researched and well structured, but too pedantic to appeal to a general audience.
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2
as in boring
causing weariness or lack of interest
I found the author's writing informative but dreadfully pedantic.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pedantic
Special shout-out to the writers’ room for giving us a high-tension cold open and then segueing immediately post-credits to the Titan equivalent of a family road trip where Mom and Dad are pedantic geniuses arguing over what route to take to the beach.
—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
22 May 2026
They were organized and well led by guides who were always clearly spoken, professional, and responsive to questions (if sometimes a tad pedantic in their fact-sharing).
—
Alex Postman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
This argument, however, sounds pedantic to me, like a point scored in a debate rather than a real explanation for why some human dramas compel empathy and action and others do not.
—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
16 Jan. 2026
If only a pedantic stance could ease Americans’ fears that health care coverage will be out of reach for them in 2026.
—
Boston Herald Editorial Staff,
Boston Herald,
20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pedantic
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
22 May 2026
They were organized and well led by guides who were always clearly spoken, professional, and responsive to questions (if sometimes a tad pedantic in their fact-sharing).
—
Alex Postman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
This argument, however, sounds pedantic to me, like a point scored in a debate rather than a real explanation for why some human dramas compel empathy and action and others do not.
—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
16 Jan. 2026
If only a pedantic stance could ease Americans’ fears that health care coverage will be out of reach for them in 2026.
—
Boston Herald Editorial Staff,
Boston Herald,
20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pedantic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pedantic
Adjective
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He was honored as a Distinguished Fellow by the same organization for his scholarly contributions to the field of regional science, according to his obituary.
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Miami Circle gets historic recognition Carr and other experts, with the support of Ryan Wheeler, then the state’s chief of archaeology, built a case that gradually came to mainstream scientific and scholarly acceptance.
Adjective
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Far fewer people stay responsible when the work turns boring, unclear or inconvenient, and that's precisely when ownership surfaces.
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Monocultures can be boring, but on the flipside, a huge collection of individual species looks like a busy bowl of potpourri.
Adjective
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What the novels of William Faulkner and Ralph Ellison reveal about the soul of America • How Lewis and Clark invented the Western • Is Minneapolis the most literate city in America?
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Originally, standard German would have served for writing purposes, for the limited number who were literate, but English slowly replaced it.
Adjective
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The head coach was clumsy in his response, saying — in effect — that the player is better suited to being an impact substitute and taking advantage of tiring opposition defenders.
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The chassis exhibits little flex, the buttons feel crisp and responsive, and the scroll wheel offers enough resistance to feel deliberate without becoming tiring.
Adjective
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Spontaneous and slightly chaotic, this cerebral synergy can bring surprising news or perhaps even trigger the sudden urge to break out of a stagnant situation.
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While Lovers Rock may be more musically spare and reserved, the album’s lyrics represent some of Adu’s most cerebral and political work to date.
Adjective
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But all work and no play can make for a dull chief scientific officer.
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The great speculators became talkative and communicative or dull, sullen, silent, and peevish.
Adjective
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The robot staff behind the scenes Pudu's FlashBot will run an intelligent vending system, allowing guests to order drink deliveries by smartphone.
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His after-game interviews were always intelligent and sometimes humorous.
Adjective
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The landscape is didactic, insistent.
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Navy excels at untangling human emotions and picking through them without being didactic or moralistic.
Cite this Entry
“Pedantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pedantic. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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