rotundly

Rotundly is an adverb meaning in a round, full, or emphatic manner. It is most often applied to speech, describing a voice or speaking style that is resonant, forceful, and perhaps deliberately exuberant. The word can carry a gently comic or ironic undertone, suggesting that a speaker's manner is especially rounded, loud, or verbose. Although it can describe writing as well, its characteristic use is with the way someone speaks: a minister might answer a difficult question rotundly, or a performer might deliver a familiar line with rich, emphatic timing. In less literary contexts, “roundly,” “bluntly,” or “emphatically” may communicate the same basic idea more plainly. Rotundly is consequently a useful word for describing speech that has physical resonance as well as rhetorical force.

In a round, full, or emphatic manner, especially when speaking or writing.

Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.

Where does rotundly come from?

The word derives from the English adjective “rotund,” which comes from Latin rotundus, meaning “round” or “swollen.” English formed “rotundly” by adding the adverbial suffix “-ly” to that adjective. The Latin root also appears in words such as “rotunda” and “rotundity,” while “round” is an English cognate associated with the same Latin word.

How rotundly is actually used

Relatively formal and often humorous or mildly ironic. It is especially used to describe a manner of speaking that is full-bodied, emphatic, or conspicuously verbose.

Easily confused with rotundly

What's another word for rotundly?

Rhymes with rotundly