pleonasm

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Note he won’t shout loudly – that’s known as a pleonasm, when more words than necessary are used.

From The Guardian • Apr. 29, 2019

The phrase 'think for one's self' is a pleonasm.

From Time Magazine Archive

It must express the idea better and in another way, else it will be only a pleonasm, an after conception of bad taste, a hindrance rather than an aid to intelligible expression.

From Delsarte System of Oratory by Various

The body of the poem was written by Nahum Tate, one of those second-rate bards, who, by dint of pleonasm and expletive can find smooth lines if any one will supply them with ideas.

From The Dramatic Works of John Dryden, Volume 1 With a Life of the Author by Saintsbury, George

They plainly declare that the "New Criticis" rests on "utterly baseless foundations"—which is a curious pleonasm or tautology for a body of "educated" gentlemen.

From Flowers of Freethought (Second Series) by Foote, G. W. (George William)