Sesquipedalian
Given to using very long words — or, of a word, absurdly long. Literally: a foot and a half long.
Full definition of Sesquipedalian →:: COMPARE ::
SesquipedalianvsLaconic
The short answer
Sesquipedalian measures words by the foot; laconic measures them by how few survive. The Spartans' terseness against Horace's stilts — and Horace himself sided with brevity.
Side by side
| Aspect | Sesquipedalian | Laconic |
|---|---|---|
| Word count | High | Minimal |
| Named after | A measurement | A region |
| Effect on audience | Distance | Impact |
| Horace's preference | — | This one |
What each one means
Laconic
The contrast above sets out how Laconic differs from Sesquipedalian on the points that actually matter.