Words to describe diction
pedantic -overly concerned with minute details or formalisms, esp. in teaching; ostentatious (pretentious/intended to attract notice or attention of others) in one's learning
euphemistic-substituting a mild term for a harsher or distasteful one. “Upset Stomach” instead of puke, barf, up chuck
pretentious-characterized by assumption of dignity or importance; making an exaggerated outward show; ostentatious;
sensuous-Of, relating to, or derived from the senses; Appealing to or gratifying the senses
exact-precise; characterized by or using strict accuracy
cultured-enlightened; refined; the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc
plain-clear to the mind; evident, manifest, or obvious; without intricacies or difficulties; with little or no embellishment, decoration, or enhancing elaboration; ordinary
literal-in accordance with, involving, or being the primary or strict meaning of the word or words; not figurative or metaphorical: the literal meaning of a word
colloquial-characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal
artificial-lacking naturalness or spontaneity; forced; contrived; feigned; synthetic, counterfeit
detached-impartial or objective; disinterested; unbiased; not involved or concerned; aloof
poetic-possessing the qualities or charm of poetry: poetic descriptions of nature
moralistic-Characterized by or displaying a concern with morality; marked by narrow-minded morality
slang-very informal usage in vocabulary and idiom that is characteristically more metaphorical, playful, elliptical, vivid, and ephemeral than ordinary language, as Hit the road.
idiomatic-peculiar to or characteristic of a particular language or dialect: idiomatic French. having a distinct style or character, esp. in the arts: idiomatic writing; an idiomatic composer. containing or using many idioms (idiom=an expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements, as kick the bucket or hang one's head, or from the general grammatical rules of a language; regional speech or dialect eat crow)
esoteric-understood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest; private; secret; confidential; belonging to a select few
symbolic-characterized by or involving the use of symbols
simple-not grand or sophisticated; unpretentious; not complex or complicated; natural, unembellished; ordinary
figurative-of the nature of or involving a figure of speech, esp. a metaphor; metaphorical; not literal: a figurative expression
bombastic-of speech, writing, etc.) high-sounding; high-flown; inflated; pretentious; pompous; grandiose,
abstruse-hard to understand; recondite; esoteric; secret, hidden
grotesque-odd or unnatural in shape, appearance, or character; fantastically ugly or absurd; bizarre, distorted, deformed, weird
vulgar-characterized by ignorance of or lack of good breeding or taste; indecent; obscene; lewd
scholarly-concerned with academic learning; of, like, or befitting a scholar; academic
insipid-without distinctive, interesting, or stimulating qualities; vapid: an insipid personality. bland
precise-definitely or strictly stated, defined, or fixed, carefully distinct, explicit
learned-having much knowledge; scholarly; erudite;
picturesque-strikingly graphic or vivid; creating detailed mental images: a picturesque description of the Brazilian jungle; having pleasing or interesting qualities; strikingly effective in appearance
homespun-plain; unpolished; unsophisticated; simple; rustic: homespun humor
provincial-belonging or peculiar to some particular province; local; having or showing the manners, viewpoints, etc., considered characteristic of unsophisticated inhabitants of a province; rustic; narrow or illiberal; parochial: a provincial point of view.
trite-lacking in freshness or effectiveness because of constant use or excessive repetition; hackneyed; stale: the trite phrases in his letter; characterized by hackneyed expressions, ideas, etc.: The commencement address was trite and endlessly long; ordinary; common; everyday
obscure-not clear or plain; ambiguous, vague, or uncertain: an obscure sentence in the contract.; not clear to the understanding; hard to perceive: obscure motivations; not expressing the meaning clearly or plainly
archaic-marked by the characteristics of an earlier period; primitive; ancient; old
verbose-characterized by the use of many or too many words; wordy: a verbose report
abstract-difficult to understand; abstruse; thought of apart from concrete realities, specific objects, or actual instances
biting-cutting, sarcastic
brusque-abrupt in manner; blunt
cacophonous-having a harsh or unpleasant sound; dissonant, strident, grating, raucous
casual-without definite or serious intention; careless or offhand; seeming or tending to be indifferent to what is happening; apathetic; unconcerned
caustic-severely critical or sarcastic; biting, mordant, bitter, scathing,
concrete-constituting an actual thing or instance; real; pertaining to or concerned with realities or actual instances rather than abstractions; particular
colorful-richly eventful or picturesque; presenting or suggesting vivid or striking scenes; spirited
connotative-having the power of implying or suggesting something in addition to what is explicit; The set of associations implied by a word in addition to its literal meaning; an idea or meaning suggested by a thing
crisp-invigorating, fresh, brisk, bracing
curt-rudely brief in speech or abrupt in manner; short, brief, concise
denotative-the primary or specific meaning of a word. Dictionary definition
divisive-creating dissension or discord; forming or expressing division
emotional-pertaining to or involving emotion or the emotions; appealing to the emotions; showing or revealing strong emotions, temperamental, effusive, demonstrative, sentimental
euphonious-pleasant in sound; agreeable to the ear; characterized by euphony
fanciful-characterized by or showing fancy; capricious or whimsical in appearance; suggested by fancy; imaginary; unreal; visionary; illusory
flowery-rhetorically ornate or precious; showy; bombastic
formal-of, reflecting, or noting a usage of language in which syntax, pronunciation, etc., adhere to traditional standards of correctness and usage is characterized by the absence of casual, contracted, and colloquial forms
inflammatory-tending to arouse anger, hostility, passion; fiery; provocative
informal-suitable to or characteristic of casual and familiar, but educated, speech or writing; unconventional
insincere-not sincere; not honest in the expression of actual feeling; hypocritical; deceitful; disingenuous
jargon-the language, esp. the vocabulary, peculiar to a particular trade, profession, or group
loaded-charged with emotional or associative significance that hinders rational or unprejudiced consideration of the terms involved in a discourse
lyrical-characterized by or expressing spontaneous, direct feeling; having the form and musical quality of a song, and esp. the character of a songlike outpouring of the poet's own thoughts and feelings
melodious- of the nature of or characterized by melody; tuneful; sweet-sounding
monosyllabic-having a vocabulary composed primarily of monosyllables or short, simple words.
nostalgic-a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time
offensive-causing resentful displeasure; highly irritating, angering, or annoying; insulting; displeasing, vexatious, vexing, unpleasant
ornate –ostentatious, elaborately adorned, showy, embellished with rhetoric, high-flown (extravagant in aims/pretentious)
passionate- having, compelled by, or ruled by intense emotion or strong feeling; fervid; zealous; ardent; enthusiastic; glowing; fiery
patriotic- expressing or inspired by patriotism; love of one’s country
political- of, pertaining to, or concerned with politics; government
romantic- of, pertaining to, or of the nature of romance; characteristic or suggestive of the world of romance; fanciful; impractical; unrealistic: romantic ideas; imbued with or dominated by idealism, a desire for adventure, chivalry; pertaining to, or characteristic of a style of literature and art that subordinates form to content, encourages freedom of treatment, emphasizes imagination, emotion, and introspection, and often celebrates nature, the ordinary person, and freedom of the spirit
sentimental- expressive of or appealing to sentiment, esp. the tender emotions and feelings, as love, pity, or nostalgia; weakly emotional; mawkishly susceptible or tender; romantic, tender, nostalgic; maudlin, bathetic
shocking- causing intense surprise, disgust, horror; staggering, astounding, startling, appalling
sincere- free of deceit, hypocrisy, or falseness; earnest; genuine; real; pure; unmixed; unadulterated; frank, candid, honest, open, guileless; straightforward
subdued- quiet; inhibited; repressed; controlled; lowered in intensity or strength; reduced in fullness of tone, as a color or voice; muted
tame- lacking in excitement; dull; insipid; softened; meek; subdued
technical- peculiar to or characteristic of a particular art, science, profession, trade; using terminology or treating subject matter in a manner peculiar to a particular field, as a writer or a book;
unifying- to make or become a single unit; unite; combine, merge, fuse,
uppity- affecting an attitude of inflated self-esteem; haughty; snobbish; presumptuously arrogant