as in concise
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning
Oscar Wilde's epigrammatic observation, "In America the young are always ready to give to those who are older than themselves the full benefits of their inexperience"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 epigrammatic
Though its action is depicted crisply and clearly, its epigrammatic shots aim straight for the viewer’s unconscious, making only glancing contact with the rational mind.
—
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Though its action is depicted crisply and clearly, its epigrammatic shots aim straight for the viewer’s unconscious, making only glancing contact with the rational mind.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell (1791) The best and most entertaining biography ever written in English — addictive for its prescient, informal, racy prose and Johnson's epigrammatic precision and enduring decency.
—The Week Staff, The Week, 20 Mar. 2023
Dylan is helplessly epigrammatic.
—Dwight Garner, New York Times, 7 Nov. 2022
There’s nothing wrong with epigrammatic rhetoric.
—Jon Meacham, Town & Country, 30 Oct. 2022
In recent years, the magazine has published several short, often epigrammatic poems by Simic.
—Hannah Aizenman, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2023
For the next 10 minutes or so, Godard, smoking his familiar cigar, meditates on this vexing, evergreen question with his characteristic intelligence, opacity and epigrammatic wit.
—A.o. Scott, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2022
With the help of blankly matter-of-fact yet omniscient voice-over narration (spoken by Madeleine James), D’Ambrose achieves the span and the depth of a cinematic bildungsroman in shards of experience and epigrammatic flickers.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2022
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Though its action is depicted crisply and clearly, its epigrammatic shots aim straight for the viewer’s unconscious, making only glancing contact with the rational mind.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell (1791) The best and most entertaining biography ever written in English — addictive for its prescient, informal, racy prose and Johnson's epigrammatic precision and enduring decency.
—The Week Staff, The Week, 20 Mar. 2023
Dylan is helplessly epigrammatic.
—Dwight Garner, New York Times, 7 Nov. 2022
There’s nothing wrong with epigrammatic rhetoric.
—Jon Meacham, Town & Country, 30 Oct. 2022
In recent years, the magazine has published several short, often epigrammatic poems by Simic.
—Hannah Aizenman, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2023
For the next 10 minutes or so, Godard, smoking his familiar cigar, meditates on this vexing, evergreen question with his characteristic intelligence, opacity and epigrammatic wit.
—A.o. Scott, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2022
With the help of blankly matter-of-fact yet omniscient voice-over narration (spoken by Madeleine James), D’Ambrose achieves the span and the depth of a cinematic bildungsroman in shards of experience and epigrammatic flickers.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for epigrammatic
Adjective
-
The song is a concise blast of funky country-rock, with shades of the Allman Brothers, some traditional-country fiddle, and lyrics about a bottle that just won’t empty.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Applicants should therefore focus on providing concise updates that directly impact the reassessment of their application.—
Christopher Rim,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
During a brief news conference, Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad said officials could not take questions, citing the ongoing investigation and pending litigation.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
-
The show had a brief run Off Broadway in 1996, then lived on with a miniature national tour and a beloved cast recording.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Ukraine is investigating more than 150,000 possible war crimes committed by Russia, including the summary execution of prisoners and targeted aerial strikes against civilians.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
17 Mar. 2025
-
He is accused of acting as the de facto leader of the Davao Death Squad, a group that was responsible for summary executions and the murder or disappearance of more than 1,000 people in and around the city.—
Lisandro Claudio,
The Conversation,
12 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Epigrammatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/epigrammatic. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share