Florid
hardNegative toneFLOR-id
adjective
Definition
excessively ornate or elaborate in style
Memory hook
FLORID shares 'flor' with 'floral'βflorid writing is over-FLOWERED, drowning in ornamental blooms and excess decoration.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
βThe critic mocked the novel's florid prose, dense with needless adjectives.β
βHis florid speech, full of grand flourishes, soon wearied the audience.β
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
βThe critic mocked the novel's ______ prose, dense with needless adjectives.β
Show answer
florid
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Florid is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "ornate" or "flowery" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "plain".
Related GRE Words
adulatory
Excessively praising or admiring; fawning
aphoristic
Containing or characterized by aphorisms; concise and memorable
circumlocutory
Using many words where fewer would do; roundabout in expression
digressive
Departing from the main subject; rambling
discursive
Digressing from subject to subject; rambling
epigrammatic
Concise, clever, and memorable in expression
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