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Definition of monosyllabic

monosyllabic

/ˌmɑː.nə.sɪˈlæb.ɪk/
mon · o · syl · lab · ic
Adverb:monosyllabically
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monosyllabic Lexical Profile

monosyllabic Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Consisting of or having only one syllable.

Example

"The English language relies heavily on short, monosyllabic words derived from Old English for everyday communication."

2

Using very few and very short words in conversation, especially out of reluctance to speak, boredom, or annoyance.

Example

"The teenager remained sulky and monosyllabic throughout the entire family dinner, answering every question with a simple grunt."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for monosyllabic
Antonyms
View all antonyms for monosyllabic

Word Nuance & Usage

Ironically, the word 'monosyllabic' itself consists of five syllables (making it polysyllabic).

• Rhymes for monosyllabic

• Nearby Words

monopsis
monorail
monospaced
monosyllabic
monosyllable
monotask
monotasking

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from Late Latin monosyllabus, from Ancient Greek monosyllabos, combining monos ('single, alone') and syllabe ('syllable').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Monosyllabic. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/monosyllabic
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