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Given to excessive moralizing; pompous or pretentious in speaking.
synonyms:moralisticsanctimonious
The word 'sententious' originates from the Latin word 'sententiosus', which means 'full of meaning'. It made its way into English in the early 17th century.
Sententious is typically used in literary or formal contexts to describe speech or writing that is overly moralizing or self-righteous.
While not commonly used in everyday conversation, it appears in literary critiques and discussions about rhetoric.
The politician's sententious speeches often alienated his audience, as they felt lectured rather than inspired.
She had a sententious way of speaking that made her sound more like a preacher than a friend.
His sententious remarks during the meeting were met with eye rolls from his colleagues.
Sententious is one of those delightful words that feels like it should come with a monocle and a top hat! Originating from Latin, it captures the essence of someone who loves to preach their morals, often in an exaggerated or pompous manner. While it can be used to describe grandiloquent speeches, it also serves as a reminder that brevity and sincerity often resonate better than moralizing rhetoric. So, next time you hear someone going on a bit too long about virtues, you can nod knowingly and think, 'Ah, such a sententious fellow!'