Words To Avoid In Professional Communication

adjective brusque is an adjective that describes someone or something as abrupt or blunt in manner or speech

• The manager's brusque manner often intimidated his employees.
• She was taken aback by his brusque response.
• Don't be so brusque with me, I was just asking a question.
• His words were like a brusque slap in the face, leaving her stunned.

adjective having an excessively favorable opinion of one's abilities, appearance, etc.; arrogant

• The conceited businessman always talked about his own accomplishments.
• She's so conceited, always bragging about herself.
• Don't be so conceited, no one likes a show-off.
• His ego is so inflated, he's practically floating with conceitedness.

verb To behave in a superior manner; to talk down to someone; to patronize.

• She refused to condescend to his level of ignorance during the debate.
• Don't condescend to me like I don't know what I'm talking about.
• Stop condescending to me, I'm not a child.
• The wealthy woman would often condescend to help the less fortunate in her community.

noun the quality of being fluent in speech but insincere or shallow

adjective glib

• His glibness in public speaking impressed the audience.
• She always relies on her glibness to get out of trouble.
• I can't stand his glibness, he always thinks he knows everything.
• The politician's glibness was like a mask hiding his true intentions.

adjective marked by ease and fluency in speaking or writing that often suggests insincerity or deceitfulness

• His glib remarks during the meeting did not go unnoticed by the board members.
• She always has a glib response ready whenever someone criticizes her.
• Don't be so glib about the situation, it's serious!
• His glib promises turned out to be empty words in the end.

adjective having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy

• The princess had a haughty demeanor as she walked through the castle.
• She always acts so haughty around others, like she's better than everyone else.
• Don't be so haughty, no one likes a stuck-up attitude.
• His haughty attitude was like a barrier that kept others at a distance.

adjective having a soft, dry, crumbly texture like that of meal

• The politician's mealy-mouthed response failed to address the concerns of the public.
• Stop being so mealy-mouthed and just tell me what you really think.
• I can't stand her mealy-mouthed excuses for not showing up on time.
• His mealy-mouthed compliments were as satisfying as a bland meal.

adjective showing an offensively condescending manner

• The teacher's tone was perceived as patronizing by the students.
• Stop being so patronizing, I understand what you're saying.
• She was talking down to me, it was so patronizing.
• His smile was fake and patronizing, as if he thought he was superior to everyone else.

adjective characterized by an ostentatious display of dignity or importance

• The professor's pompous attitude towards his students made it difficult for them to approach him.
• Don't be so pompous just because you got a promotion at work.
• She thinks she's all that, walking around with that pompous air about her.
• The pompous clouds in the sky seemed to look down on the earth below.

adjective having a false earnestness or ingratiating manner

• The politician's smarmy demeanor did not sit well with the voters.
• I can't stand that smarmy guy who always tries to act so charming.
• That smarmy dude thinks he's so slick, but he's really just a phony.
• Her words were coated in a smarmy layer of insincerity.

verb to speak or write about in a disparaging manner; to defame or slander

• The journalist sought to vilify the politician's character with false accusations.
• Don't listen to those rumors, they're just trying to vilify him.
• The tabloids love to vilify celebrities for the smallest mistakes.
• Her words were like daggers, meant to vilify his reputation beyond repair.