ten-dollar word

English

Alternative forms

• five-dollar word, two-dollar word

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

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Noun

ten-dollar word (plural ten-dollar words)

1. (US, idiomatic) A long and uncommon word used in place of a shorter and simpler one with the intent to appear sophisticated.
   • 2018 June 13, Michael Schein, “Author Simon Sinek Is Full Of Hot Air (And Other Reasons You Should Follow His Lead)”, in Forbes‎^[1]:

     Sometimes it pays to overcomplicate your simple messages. Make a list of ten-dollar words, scientific terms, and obscure niblets of jargon and find ways to use them. Your reputation and authority will soar.

Synonyms

• twenty-five cent word

Antonyms

• ten-cent word

Further reading

• Jonathon Green (2023), “ten-dollar word n.”, in Green's Dictionary of Slang