Overexplicit

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Excessively detailed or clear in expression, to the point that it may overwhelm or confuse the intended message
2. Too much clarity or detail in communication, making the content overly clear and possibly redundant
3. Presenting information with such thoroughness that it detracts from the overall understanding or intent of the message

Etymology: "Overexplicit" is a plain compound: the prefix "over-", meaning excessive or beyond the proper degree, attached to "explicit," which comes from Latin "explicitus," the past participle of "explicare," meaning "to unfold" or "to make plain." Explicit thus began as a physical image of something unfolded and laid open, and came to mean something stated fully and clearly without leaving anything to be inferred. Put the two together and the meaning follows directly. An overexplicit message is one that has been unfolded past the point of usefulness: every detail is spelled out, qualified and restated until the reader's attention drowns in the clarification and the main point gets buried. The word describes a fault of excess rather than a lack of clarity, which is why it is a useful term for writers who explain too much.

Synonyms: overly detailed, excessively clear

Antonyms: ambiguous, vague