pedantic

adjective

Definition of pedanticnext
1
as in scholarly
marked by or given to showing knowledge in a showy way The writing was overly complex and pedantic, which made it nearly impossible to understand for anyone but a specialist. The speech was thoroughly researched and well structured, but too pedantic to appeal to a general audience.

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2
as in boring
causing weariness or lack of interest I found the author's writing informative but dreadfully pedantic.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pedantic Rice cleaners are pedantic and nitpicky. — Aksha Mittapalli, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2026 Special shout-out to the writers’ room for giving us a high-tension cold open and then segueing immediately post-credits to the Titan equivalent of a family road trip where Mom and Dad are pedantic geniuses arguing over what route to take to the beach. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 22 May 2026 The problem with buying a striker from a team in Portugal is — to be a little pedantic — not that the Portuguese top flight is weak. — Michael Cox, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2026 They were organized and well led by guides who were always clearly spoken, professional, and responsive to questions (if sometimes a tad pedantic in their fact-sharing). — Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pedantic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pedantic
  1. scholarly
  2. boring
  3. literate
  4. tiring
  5. cerebral
  6. dull
  7. intelligent
  8. didactic
Adjective
  • Katz is known for a curatorial ethos that places scholarly rigor and popular appeal on equal footing.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Faculty hiring and promotion should be based on scholarly merit through peer review, not political expectations imposed from Washington.
    — Marybeth Gasman, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of scholarly
Adjective
  • Now the seven most boring, starting with the most tolerable (comments edited for grammar and clarity).
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026
  • It’s been a boring week for Makyah, who’s in third grade at Banneker Elementary.
    — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of boring
Adjective
  • The teams experimenting organically, building their own use cases, are the AI-literate pockets.
    — Ayaskant Sarangi, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Hitler came to power in a highly literate Germany, but the Nazis took advantage of movies and radio to push simple messages with immediate emotional impact.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 27 July 2026
Definition of literate
Adjective
  • Food & Drink You’ll find just two dining venues on the property, The Dining Room (which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and the poolside Palapa Bar, but there’s no chance of tiring of the fare.
    — Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Permanent Marker Removal Trying to scrub permanent marker away is tiring, time-consuming, and often futile without some type of product to loosen the marker.
    — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of tiring
Adjective
  • The Actor Awards have voter crossover with the Emmys, unlike the Globes and Critics Choice, but The Diplomat is a far more SAG-friendly show than the cerebral Pluribus, which didn’t get an ensemble bid with the guild, unlike The Diplomat.
    — Joyce Eng, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The autopsy also found Martinez suffered pulmonary and mild cerebral edema, a potentially deadly condition where excess fluid accumulates in the lungs and brain.
    — Perry Vandell, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of cerebral
Adjective
  • Cucumbers Cucumbers turn dull, yellow, and bitter if allowed to ripen.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2026
  • And the company’s newest bot software automizes of the dullest jobs in retail — counting boxes.
    — Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of dull
Adjective
  • That so many otherwise intelligent people missed the warning signs is a testament to the power of his message and the force of his charisma.
    — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026
  • For example, Anderson has one client who’s 35, good looking and tall and in finance, who also wants a gorgeous and intelligent girl.
    — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of intelligent
Adjective
  • While the purpose of the video may have been didactic, Jiang tried her hand at flattery.
    — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 25 July 2026
  • The landscape is didactic, insistent.
    — Christopher Hooks, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
Definition of didactic

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pedant
pedantic
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Cite this Entry

“Pedantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pedantic. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of pedantic for Spanish Speakers

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