Euphuism (Noun)
Meaning 1
An elegant style of prose of the Elizabethan period; characterized by balance and antithesis and alliteration and extended similes with and allusions to nature and mythology.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Meaning 2
Any artificially elegant style of language.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The poet's overuse of complex metaphors and flowery language led to accusations of euphuism, which detracted from the overall meaning of the poem.
- The writer's fondness for euphuism made her blog posts sound like a parody of a Victorian novel.
- He believed that simplicity and clarity were more important than euphuism, and he made sure his writing reflected that.
- The critic panned the novel for its excessive euphuism, claiming that it made the characters sound like they were competing in a verbosity contest.
- The company's marketing brochure was a masterclass in euphuism, with phrases like "synergistic paradigm shift" and "disruptive innovation" that meant little to the average customer.