Belaboring

Belaboring, in essence, refers to the act of dwelling on or discussing something for an excessive or unnecessary amount of time. This often involves repeatedly going over a point, argument, or topic, sometimes to the point of becoming tedious or annoying. It can also imply overworking or attacking a subject or person with excessive force or detail. The intent may be to clarify, persuade, or even to criticize, but the execution results in an unwarranted and often ineffective repetition, leading to a loss of interest or impatience in the audience or recipient. This action can stem from insecurity in the speaker or a genuine but misguided desire for thoroughness.

Belaboring meaning with examples

• During the town hall meeting, the councilman kept belaboring the issue of property taxes, rehashing the same arguments for over an hour. The audience grew restless, feeling that the point had been made, and they wanted to move on to other pressing concerns. It was clear the repetition was doing more harm than good, turning what could have been a productive discussion into a dragged-out, tiring spectacle.
• The editor cautioned the journalist about belaboring the opening paragraph of the article, noting that while thoroughness is valued, it was slowing the flow of the story. The repeated phrasing, unnecessary details, and overly cautious approach made the writing feel stilted and less engaging. The editor suggested a more direct approach and to let the story unfold naturally, not to dwell on the preliminaries.
• In the debate, the candidate was accused of belaboring the opponent's past mistakes, repeatedly bringing them up long after they had been addressed and put in context. This strategy, while intended to undermine the opponent, came across as petty and lacked the substance required to win the public's support. Instead of addressing their own policy ideas, they dwelled excessively on the other candidates failures.
• The professor was known for belaboring the details of every scientific theory to an exhaustive level. Although his students appreciate his expertise and depth, the approach often resulted in students feeling overwhelmed, losing track of the larger themes and concepts. The classes were exhausting due to his habit of repeating the same points with various examples, often for the duration of the class time.