DICTION WORDS
1. pedantic [puh-dan-tik] -overly concerned with minute details or formalisms, esp. in
teaching; ostentatious (pretentious/intended to attract notice or attention of others)
in one's learning
2. euphemistic-substituting a mild term for a harsher or distasteful one. “Upset
Stomach” instead of puke, barf, up chuck
3. pretentious-characterized by assumption of dignity or importance; making an
exaggerated outward show; ostentatious;
4. sensuous-Of, relating to, or derived from the senses; Appealing to or gratifying the
senses
5. exact-precise; characterized by or using strict accuracy
6. cultured-enlightened; refined; the quality in a person or society that arises from a
concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits,
etc
7. plain-clear to the mind; evident, manifest, or obvious; without intricacies or
difficulties; with little or no embellishment, decoration, or enhancing elaboration;
ordinary
8. literal-in accordance with, involving, or being the primary or strict meaning of the
word or words; not figurative or metaphorical: the literal meaning of a word
9. colloquial-characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation rather
than formal speech or writing; informal
10. artificial-lacking naturalness or spontaneity; forced; contrived; feigned; synthetic,
counterfeit
11. detached-impartial or objective; disinterested; unbiased; not involved or
concerned; aloof
12. poetic-possessing the qualities or charm of poetry: poetic descriptions of nature
13. moralistic-Characterized by or displaying a concern with morality; marked by
narrow-minded morality
14. slang-very informal usage in vocabulary and idiom that is characteristically more
metaphorical, playful, elliptical, vivid, and ephemeral than ordinary language, as Hit
the road.
15. idiomatic-peculiar to or characteristic of a particular language or dialect: idiomatic
French. having a distinct style or character, esp. in the arts: idiomatic writing; an
idiomatic composer. containing or using many idioms (idiom=an expression whose
meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements, as
kick the bucket or hang one's head, or from the general grammatical rules of a
language; regional speech or dialect eat crow)
16. esoteric-understood by or meant for only the select few who have special
knowledge or interest; private; secret; confidential; belonging to a select few
