Meaning: Characterized by long words; given to using long words.
Hindi: लंबे शब्दों वाला
Synonyms: verbose, long-winded, polysyllabic, grandiloquent
Antonyms: concise, simple, terse
Asked in: SSC Steno 2026 T-1 · SSC CPO 2025 T-1
sesquipedalian in SSC previous-year questions
- SSC CPO 2025 T-1 One Word Substitution
Choose the correct one-word substitute for: 'One who uses long or obscure words.'
Answer & explanation
Answer: A) Sesquipedalian
Correct Answer: Option 1 — Sesquipedalian
"Sesquipedalian" describes a person or habit of using very long words. The word itself comes from Latin ' sesquipedalis ' (a foot and a half long), humorously describing long words.
Why Option 1 is correct: It is the precise one-word substitute for 'one who uses long or obscure words.'
Why the others are wrong:
Option 2 — 'Garrulous' means excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters — not specifically about long words.
Option 3 — 'Sophist' means one who uses clever but misleading arguments — related to reasoning, not word length.
Option 4 — 'Verbose' means using more words than needed — about quantity of words, not long/obscure words specifi - SSC Steno 2026 T-1 Antonyms
What is the antonym of "Sesquipedalian"?
Answer & explanation
Answer: C) Succinct
Meaning: sesquipedalian = using long words; long-winded and polysyllabic *(लंबे-लंबे शब्दों वाला, शब्दाडंबरपूर्ण)*.
Latin *sesquipedalis* = a foot and a half long — words so long they measure a foot and a half.
The antonym must mean brief and to the point.
succinct = briefly and clearly expressed *(संक्षिप्त, सारगर्भित)* — the exact opposite.
Why the others are wrong.
• affected = artificial, pretentious in manner *(बनावटी, दिखावटी)* — close to the sense of sesquipedalian, not against it; this is the trap the candidate fell into.
• pompous = self-important, grandiose in speech *(आडंबरपूर्ण)* — again a near-synonym.
• hollow = empty, without real value *(खोखला)* — unrelated to the length of w
Examples
- “His sesquipedalian writing style confused many readers.”
sesquipedalian – questions
What is the meaning of sesquipedalian in Hindi?
sesquipedalian means “लंबे शब्दों वाला” in Hindi. In English: Characterized by long words; given to using long words.
What are the synonyms of sesquipedalian?
Synonyms of sesquipedalian: verbose, long-winded, polysyllabic, grandiloquent.
What is the opposite of sesquipedalian?
Antonyms of sesquipedalian: concise, simple, terse.
Has sesquipedalian been asked in SSC exams?
Yes – sesquipedalian has been asked 2 times in SSC exams: SSC Steno 2026 T-1, SSC CPO 2025 T-1.