✅ Flowery describes something that is written in an ornate and pretentious way (He tried to fool us with a flowery speech).

✅ Florid describes something written in a pretentious, showy, and ornate way (I find her writing so florid).

✅ Both of these words refer to prose that is over-the-top.

✅ While both words are used negatively, flowery can occasionally be used in a more neutral way (Charming, flowery descriptions of village life).

✅ Traipse means to walk aimlessly or without reaching your goal (We traipsed from store to store looking for a present).

✅ Meander means to wander aimlessly about (We meandered through the park on our way home).

✅ Meander can also mean to talk in a wandering way, and traipse can mean to wander in a way that brings frustration and fatigue.

✅ Meander is generally a more positive word, whereas traipse is generally a more negative one.

✅ Smile means to make an expression of joy or pleasure by turning up the corners of the mouth and sometimes crinkling the eyes (He had to smile as he watched a video of his cat).

✅ Beam means to smile in a particularly happy or radiant way (They all beamed at the good news).

✅ Both of these terms mean to make an expression of happiness or joy, but smile can also involve an expression of scorn.

✅ What word puts the biggest smile on your face? Vote now in our "Biggest Smile Wins" bracket!