Discursive
harddis-KUR-siv
adjective
Definition
Digressing from subject to subject; rambling
Examples
“His discursive writing style frustrated readers seeking clarity.”
“The professor's discursive lectures covered many tangential topics.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Discursive is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "digressive" or "rambling" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "focused".
Related GRE Words
digressive
Departing from the main subject; rambling
rambling
Lengthy and confused or inconsequential; sprawling
aphoristic
Containing or characterized by aphorisms; concise and memorable
circumlocutory
Using many words where fewer would do; roundabout in expression
epigrammatic
Concise, clever, and memorable in expression
verbose
Using or expressed in more words than are needed
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