Communication Styles

noun a person who gives unwanted advice or direction, especially from the back seat of a vehicle

• The backseat driver constantly gave unsolicited advice during the entire road trip.
• My mom is such a backseat driver whenever I'm behind the wheel.
• I can't stand being a backseat driver when my friend is driving.
• The boss was being a backseat driver, micromanaging every aspect of the project.

noun a petty argument or quarrel

verb to argue or quarrel over petty matters

• The colleagues continued to bicker over the details of the project during the meeting.
• My siblings always bicker about who gets to sit in the front seat of the car.
• I can't stand listening to those two bicker back and forth all the time.
• The sun and the moon seemed to bicker over who would light up the sky each night.

noun a person who talks excessively or foolishly

verb to talk rapidly and incessantly

• The speaker's constant blabber during the meeting was distracting.
• Stop blabbering and let me concentrate!
• She's always blabbering on about her problems.
• His mind was a constant blabber of thoughts and ideas.

adjective bossy - fond of giving people orders; domineering

• Her bossy attitude made it difficult for her to work well with her colleagues.
• My sister can be so bossy when she wants things done her way.
• Don't be so bossy, let everyone have a say in the decision.
• The storm clouds looked bossy as they rolled in, casting a dark shadow over the beach.

noun the part of a garment that covers the shoulder

• She felt hurt when she was given the cold shoulder by her colleagues at the meeting.
• I don't know why she's giving me the cold shoulder lately.
• Why are you giving me the cold shoulder all of a sudden?
• The company gave the cold shoulder to the proposal, refusing to consider it further.

adverb Coldly is an adverb that describes how an action is done in a cold manner.

• She responded to the criticism coldly, without showing any emotion.
• He looked at her coldly and walked away without saying a word.
• She gave him a coldly stare that made him feel uncomfortable.
• The news hit him coldly, leaving him feeling numb and detached.

noun a quality of being brief and abrupt in speech or manner

• Her response was delivered with such curtness that it left everyone in the room feeling uneasy.
• I don't appreciate the curtness in his tone when he talks to me.
• She hit him with some serious curtness when he tried to flirt with her.
• The curtness of his actions spoke volumes about his true feelings towards the project.

adjective Exerting influence or control in a bossy or arrogant manner

• The CEO's domineering behavior made it difficult for employees to voice their opinions.
• My domineering boss always wants things done her way.
• She's so domineering, always acting like she's the boss of everyone.
• The storm's domineering presence loomed over the small town, causing fear and chaos.

noun a person who is talkative or chatty

adjective talkative or chatty; tending to talk a lot or share a lot of information

• Gabby's constant chatter during the meeting was quite distracting.
• I can't focus when Gabby is being so talkative.
• Gabby won't stop yapping, it's driving me crazy.
• Her gabby nature is like a never-ending stream of words.

adjective easily offended or annoyed; touchy

adverb in an easily offended or annoyed manner

• She left the meeting in a huffy manner after not getting her way.
• He gets all huffy whenever someone disagrees with him.
• Don't be so huffy about it, it's not a big deal.
• The clouds looked huffy as they gathered before the storm.

noun a conversation or discussion that is not meaningful or productive

• Engaging in idle talk during work hours is not conducive to productivity.
• Stop with the idle talk and let's get down to business.
• I'm not interested in your idle talk, I have better things to do.
• His mind was filled with idle talk, preventing him from focusing on the task at hand.

noun a person characterized by concern primarily with his or her own thoughts and feelings

• The introvert preferred to spend her evenings reading alone at home.
• Don't worry, he's just an introvert who likes to keep to himself.
• She's a total introvert, always ghosting on plans with friends.
• His shy demeanor at the party made him seem like an introvert in a sea of extroverts.

noun someone who jabbers or chatters incessantly

• The jabberer in the meeting wouldn't stop talking and let others speak.
• I can't stand that jabberer at the party who never stops gossiping.
• That jabberer is always yapping about nonsense.
• Her mind was like a room full of jabberers, never quiet or still.

noun a style of writing or language characteristic of newspapers and journalists, marked by cliches, sensationalism, and simplistic language

• The journalist's use of journalese in the article made it difficult for some readers to understand.
• I can't stand reading articles filled with journalese - just give me the facts in plain language!
• The reporter's journalese was so over-the-top, it was like reading a foreign language.
• The politician's speech was full of journalese, masking the true meaning behind his words.

adjective using very few words in speech or writing

• The CEO's laconic response left the board members wondering about the company's future.
• His laconic text messages always leave me guessing.
• She's known for being super laconic in her communication style.
• The painting's beauty was in its laconic use of color and brushstrokes.

noun a way in which a thing is done or happens; method

• His manner of speaking was very refined and eloquent.
• She always acts in a polite manner towards others.
• I can't stand the way he talks, his manner is so annoying.
• The manner in which she handled the situation was like a graceful dance.

noun a person who habitually borrows or lives off others without any intention of repaying or contributing

verb to ask for or obtain something without paying for it

• The neighbor's son is known to mooch off of others for free meals.
• Don't be a mooch and always expect others to pay for your expenses.
• Stop trying to mooch off of me for cigarettes.
• The company is trying to mooch off of the success of their competitors by copying their strategies.

noun a quiet or mumbled utterance

verb to speak quietly and indistinctly

adverb in a low, indistinct voice

• She could hear her colleague mutter under his breath as he walked away.
• I caught my brother muttering about his bad day at work.
• The guy at the bar kept muttering about his ex-girlfriend.
• The wind seemed to mutter secrets as it rustled through the trees.

noun a prolonged and tedious discussion or debate

verb to talk unnecessarily at length

• The lengthy palaver between the two parties resulted in a mutually beneficial agreement.
• I don't have time for all this palaver, just give me the bottom line.
• Stop with all the palaver and get to the point!
• The endless palaver of the politicians was just a smokescreen for their hidden agenda.

verb to treat in a condescending manner, to be a regular customer of a business

• It is important for businesses to not patronize their customers and instead treat them with respect.
• Don't patronize me, I know what I'm doing.
• Stop patronizing me, I'm not a child.
• She felt like the teacher was patronizing her when he explained basic math concepts.

noun the quality of being petty or having a narrow focus on small and insignificant details

• The pettiness of their arguments was evident during the meeting.
• I can't stand the pettiness between those two coworkers.
• Why are you being so petty about it?
• The pettiness of his actions only served to highlight his insecurities.

adjective showing a strong or forceful determination or desire to succeed

• She was known for her pushful attitude when it came to negotiating business deals.
• He can be a bit pushful when he really wants something.
• Don't be so pushful, just chill out and let things happen naturally.
• His pushful nature was like a bulldozer, plowing through any obstacles in his way.

noun a person who is overly cautious or timid in their actions

verb to walk or move cautiously or timidly

• It is unprofessional to pussyfoot around important issues in the workplace.
• Stop pussyfooting and just tell me what you really think.
• Quit pussyfooting and make a decision already.
• She always pussyfoots around the truth, never being completely honest.

noun a long, leisurely walk or journey

verb to move about aimlessly or without any clear purpose

adjective wandering aimlessly

• The speaker went on a rambling discussion about the history of the economy.
• She was just rambling on and on about her weekend plans.
• I couldn't follow his rambling story at all.
• The winding path through the forest seemed to be rambling on forever.

adjective able or willing to receive something, especially signals or stimuli

• The audience was very receptive to the new ideas presented in the conference.
• I find that she is usually quite receptive to trying new things.
• Dude, she's totally receptive to hanging out with us tonight.
• Her mind was like a sponge, always receptive to new information.

noun indecisive or irresolute behavior

verb to show indecisive or irresolute behavior

• The committee criticized the manager for his shilly shallying on important decisions.
• Stop shilly shallying and just make up your mind already!
• Quit your shilly shallying and get to work!
• Her constant shilly shallying between two career paths is delaying her success.

noun a loud cry or call

verb to utter a loud cry or call

• The teacher reprimanded the student for shouting in the classroom.
• My mom is always shouting at me to clean my room.
• Why are you shouting at me? Chill out, dude.
• His artwork was shouting with vibrant colors and bold shapes.

adjective easily irritated or annoyed; prone to snapping or biting in response

• The customer service representative was being quite snappish when asked about the return policy.
• My boss gets snappish when she's stressed out.
• Don't be so snappish, I was just asking a question.
• Her words had a snappish bite to them, revealing her frustration.

noun a fit of petulant bad temper or sulkiness

verb to be silent, morose, and bad-tempered out of annoyance or disappointment

• She sulks whenever she doesn't get her way.
• He always sulks when he loses a game.
• Stop sulking and just deal with it.
• The storm clouds gathered and the sky began to sulk.

noun a person who is habitually reserved and uncommunicative

adjective reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little

• The taciturn man rarely spoke during meetings, but when he did, everyone listened intently.
• My taciturn neighbor never says much, but he's always willing to lend a helping hand.
• Don't mind him, he's just being taciturn today.
• The old house stood taciturn on the hill, its windows staring blankly into the distance.

adjective Talkative is an adjective that describes someone who is inclined to talk a lot or speak freely and fluently.

• She is known to be quite talkative during meetings, always sharing her thoughts and ideas.
• My little cousin is so talkative, she never stops chatting!
• That guy is a total chatterbox, always talking everyone's ear off.
• The river flowed like a talkative storyteller, never running out of tales to tell.

adjective easily irritated or annoyed; irritable

• The professor became testy when students repeatedly asked questions that were already covered in the lecture.
• My mom gets testy when I forget to take out the trash.
• Don't be so testy, I was just joking around.
• The relationship between the two countries has been testy for years, with tensions constantly simmering.

noun the quality of talking fluently, readily, or incessantly; talkativeness

• Her volubility in conversation made her a captivating speaker at the conference.
• She talks so much, her volubility is off the charts!
• She's a real chatterbox, her volubility knows no bounds.
• His volubility flowed like a river, never running dry of words.

noun a sharp, high-pitched bark or cry

verb to bark sharply or shrilly

• The small dog's constant yap could be heard throughout the neighborhood.
• I can't stand my neighbor's dog's constant yap all day long.
• That dog's yap is so annoying, I wish it would just be quiet.
• The politician's constant yap about the issue was starting to wear thin on the public's patience.

verb to bark or talk continuously in a loud, insistent way

• The continuous yapping of the small dog next door was quite annoying.
• My neighbor's dog won't stop yapping all day long.
• I can't concentrate with that dog yapping non-stop.
• The politician kept yapping about the same issue without offering any solutions.

noun a person who always agrees with their superiors or with people in authority, often to gain favor or advantage

• He was often criticized for surrounding himself with yes men who never challenged his decisions.
• I can't stand being around a yes man who agrees with everything I say.
• Don't be a yes man and just go along with whatever they tell you.
• Being a yes man may seem like the easy way out, but it's important to stand up for what you believe in.

noun a member of Generation Z, typically born between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s

• The Gen Zer population is known for their strong digital literacy skills.
• I heard that Gen Zers are really into TikTok and Instagram.
• Gen Zers are always flexing their fits on social media.
• Gen Zers are like digital natives, born with smartphones in their hands.

verb to pester or irritate someone with persistent complaints or criticisms

• The constant mithering from the employees about the new policy was becoming tiresome.
• Stop mithering me about doing the dishes, I'll get to it eventually.
• Quit mithering me, I'll do it when I feel like it.
• The doubts kept mithering at the back of his mind, making it hard to focus.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action or state of being

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun

adverb a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb

pronoun a word that takes the place of a noun

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

conjunction a word that connects words, phrases, or clauses

interjection a word or phrase used to express strong emotion or surprise

• In a formal setting, one might ask, 'What is someone like?' to inquire about a person's character or personality.
• When chatting casually, you could say, 'So, what is someone like?' to find out more about a particular individual.
• Among friends, you might hear someone say, 'Dude, what's someone like?' when curious about a person's quirks or habits.
• In a figurative sense, asking 'What is someone like?' could be a way to explore the essence of a person's being.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action or a state of being

adverb a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, often providing information about time, manner, place, or degree

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

article a word that is used to specify a noun, such as 'the' or 'a'

• She has a tendency to talk the hind legs off a donkey whenever she gets the chance.
• Once she starts talking, she can talk the hind leg off a donkey!
• She can talk the hind leg off a donkey, no doubt about it.
• He can talk the hind legs off a donkey when he's passionate about a topic.

adjective resembling or characteristic of the former U.S. President Donald Trump, such as his behavior, style, or policies

• The president's speech was criticized for its Trumpish rhetoric.
• Her behavior at the party was so Trumpish, always bragging and interrupting others.
• I can't stand his Trumpish attitude, always trying to one-up everyone.
• The new CEO's management style is quite Trumpish, focusing more on showmanship than actual results.

noun a noun is a word that refers to a person, place, thing, event, substance, or quality

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun

• The casualness of his demeanor during the job interview was off-putting to the hiring manager.
• I love the casualness of this restaurant, you can come in wearing anything and still feel comfortable.
• Her casualness about the whole situation was kind of annoying, like she didn't even care.
• The casualness with which he handled the delicate situation showed a lack of understanding of its importance.

noun a person who habitually shares an excessive amount of personal information or details about their life

• The oversharer in the meeting continued to divulge personal information to everyone present.
• She's such an oversharer on social media, always posting about her personal life.
• I can't stand hanging out with that oversharer, they never stop talking about themselves.
• Being an oversharer can sometimes lead to awkward situations and discomfort for others.

noun a made-up or coined term that combines 'chatter' and 'boxing' to create a new concept or activity

• The speaker was accused of chatterboxing during the important conference.
• She just wouldn't stop chatterboxing about her new job.
• I can't stand when people are chatterboxing non-stop.
• Her mind was chatterboxing with thoughts and ideas.

adverb in a harsh or rough manner

• The professor spoke abrasively to the students during the lecture.
• She always talks abrasively when she's in a bad mood.
• He was being so abrasively rude to the waiter at the restaurant.
• Her words cut through the conversation abrasively, leaving a tense atmosphere.

noun the quality of being sudden or unexpected

• The professor's lecture was characterized by its abruptness, leaving the students feeling confused.
• I wasn't expecting the abruptness of his response when I asked him about the project.
• Her abruptness caught me off guard, I didn't know how to react.
• The abruptness of the storm took everyone by surprise, leaving chaos in its wake.