epigrammatic

adjective

ep·​i·​gram·​mat·​ic ˌe-pə-grə-ˈma-tik How to pronounce epigrammatic (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or resembling an epigram
2
: marked by or given to the use of epigrams
epigrammatically adverb

Examples of epigrammatic in a Sentence

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”.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Some who craft epigrammatic verse can sound hollow, like slamming together tins in hopes that someone will infer meaning from the noise. Nick Ripatrazone july 10, Literary Hub, 10 July 2025 The dialogue itself, epigrammatic and substantial, stylized and expressive, is consistent with Kogonada’s over-all approach. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 20 June 2025 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

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin epigrammaticus, from Latin epigrammat-, epigramma "inscription, epitaph, epigram" + -icus -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1694, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of epigrammatic was in 1694

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Epigrammatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epigrammatic. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

epigrammatic

adjective
ep·​i·​gram·​mat·​ic ˌep-ə-grə-ˈmat-ik How to pronounce epigrammatic (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or resembling an epigram
2
: marked by or given to the use of epigrams
epigrammatical
-ˈmat-i-kəl
adjective
epigrammatically adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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