Wordiest

Wordiest

Superlative adjective · /ˈwɜːdiɪst/ · using the most words; the most verbose in a group

Definition

Wordiest is the superlative of wordy — meaning the most wordy of a group. Where wordier says more than one other, wordiest says more than all. The wordiest report on the desk. The wordiest candidate in the debate. It closes the verbosity scale at its maximum — one thing exceeds all others in word count relative to meaning.

Etymology

From wordy (Old English word: utterance, speech, plus -y) and the superlative suffix -est. Because wordy ends in consonant-Y, the Y changes to I before -est, giving wordiest — the same rule as tidiest, noisiest, heaviest. The superlative has existed as long as wordy itself but is used less frequently; it requires a full group to compare against.