donnish Definition
- 1bookish and pedantic; overly concerned with minor details of learning
- 2resembling or characteristic of a university don
Using donnish: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "donnish" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
His donnish manner made him unpopular with his students.
Example
The article was written in a very donnish style.
Example
She had a donnish air about her that intimidated others.
donnish Synonyms and Antonyms
Antonyms for donnish
Phrases with donnish
Example
He had spent his entire life in the donnish world of universities.
Example
The donnish tradition of wearing academic gowns at graduation ceremonies is still observed at some universities.
Example
The use of donnish language can make it difficult for non-experts to understand academic writing.
Origins of donnish
from the noun 'don' meaning 'a university teacher, especially a senior member of a college at Oxford or Cambridge'
Summary: donnish in Brief
'Donnish' [ˈdɒnɪʃ] describes someone or something that is overly concerned with minor details of learning, resembling or characteristic of a university don. It is often used to describe a bookish and pedantic style of writing or speaking, as in 'The article was written in a very donnish style.' 'Donnish' also extends into phrases like 'donnish world,' referring to the world of academia and scholarship.
