Periphrastically

In a periphrastic manner; using circumlocution; employing roundabout or indirect phrasing to express a concept that could be expressed more directly and concisely. This often involves substituting a longer phrase for a single word or shorter phrase. periphrastically used language can be seen as either intentional to avoid directness, create a desired effect like euphemism or to conceal the truth, or unintentional due to a lack of vocabulary or clarity of thought. The effect can be to obfuscate, elaborate, or to make the language more sophisticated or less blunt, depending on context.

Periphrastically meaning with examples

• Instead of stating the simple fact of job loss, the manager described the workforce reduction periphrastically as a 'right-sizing initiative' and the 'release of talent,' offering no specific detail and obscuring the bad news with jargon.
• The poet described the dawn periphrastically as 'the blush of the celestial sphere painting the eastern horizon' rather than simply saying 'the sun rose', crafting a more evocative, almost poetic, image for the reader.
• When asked about the controversial policy, the politician responded periphrastically, avoiding a clear 'yes' or 'no' answer. The use of vagueness created room for interpretation, not wanting to upset a certain section of the population.
• The elderly professor, known for his extensive vocabulary, often spoke periphrastically, employing elaborate sentence structures and complex phrasing even when conveying simple information, which confused the students.