1. using more words than necessary to express an idea; wordy or roundabout in expression
Usage: formal; linguistics
2. formed by using a phrase or multiple words instead of a single word
Usage: grammar; linguistics

Examples

• The politician’s periphrastic speech avoided giving direct answers.
• Her writing style was criticized for being too periphrastic and unclear.
• The periphrastic construction ‘more beautiful’ replaces the synthetic form ‘beautifuler.’
• English uses periphrastic verb forms like ‘will go’ for future tense.
• The professor’s periphrastic explanations confused rather than clarified the concept.
• Periphrastic expressions can make simple ideas sound unnecessarily complex.
• The contract’s periphrastic language made it difficult to understand the terms.