Baroque — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /bə-ˈrōk/ ba·roque

Meaning & Definition of Baroque

Baroque (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a style of artistic expression prevalent especially in the 17th century that is marked generally by use of complex forms, bold ornamentation, and the juxtaposition of contrasting elements often conveying a sense of drama, movement, and tension
  2. characterized by grotesqueness, extravagance, complexity, or flamboyance
  3. irregularly shaped

Baroque (noun)

  1. the baroque style or the period in which it flourished

Baroque (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount

    "eventually even the movie seems bored by its baroque violence"

    similar: devilish, excessive, exorbitant, extravagant, extreme, fancy, immoderate, inordinate, insane, intolerable, lavish, over-the-top, overdue, overextravagant, overmuch, overweening, plethoric, steep, stiff, towering, unconscionable, undue, unmerciful, a bit much
    related: boundless, endless, immeasurable, infinite, limitless, unbearable, unjustifiable, unwarranted, improper, inappropriate, thick, unseemly, unrestrained
    opposite: middling, moderate, modest, reasonable, temperate
    near: deficient, inadequate, insufficient, minimal, minimum

  2. having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated

    "a thriller with a baroque plot that is sure to baffle many readers"

    similar: byzantine, complex, complicate, complicated, convoluted, daedal, elaborate, intricate, involute, involved, knotty, labyrinthian, labyrinthine, sophisticated, tangled
    related: overcomplex, overcomplicated, composite, compound, heterogeneous, mixed, multibranched, multifaceted, multifarious, multipart, varied, challenging, difficult, tough, impenetrable, incomprehensible, inexplicable, Kafkaesque, unfathomable, unintelligible
    opposite: noncomplex, noncomplicated, plain, simple, uncomplicated
    near: oversimplified, simplified, simplistic, homogeneous, uniform, unvaried

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Baroque

The most common words with a similar meaning to Baroque:

devilish, excessive, exorbitant, extravagant, extreme, fancy, immoderate, inordinate, insane, intolerable, lavish, over-the-top, overdue, overextravagant, overmuch, overweening, plethoric, steep, stiff, towering, unconscionable, undue, unmerciful, byzantine, complex, complicate, complicated, convoluted, daedal, elaborate, intricate, involute, involved, knotty, labyrinthian, labyrinthine, sophisticated, tangled, a bit much

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Baroque

Words with the opposite meaning of Baroque:

middling, moderate, modest, reasonable, temperate, noncomplex, noncomplicated, plain, simple, uncomplicated

Related Words for Baroque

boundless, endless, immeasurable, infinite, limitless, unbearable, unjustifiable, unwarranted, improper, inappropriate, thick, unseemly, unrestrained, overcomplex, overcomplicated, composite, compound, heterogeneous, mixed, multibranched, multifaceted, multifarious, multipart, varied, challenging, difficult, tough, impenetrable, incomprehensible, inexplicable

Near Antonyms of Baroque

deficient, inadequate, insufficient, minimal, minimum, oversimplified, simplified, simplistic, homogeneous, uniform, unvaried

Word Forms of Baroque

Derived words: baroquely (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Baroque

French, from Middle French barroque irregularly shaped (of a pearl), from Portuguese barroco irregularly shaped pearl

First known use: circa 1734

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Baroque

Words & Phrases Containing Baroque

the baroque

Frequently Asked Questions about Baroque

What does "Baroque" mean?

"Baroque" means of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a style of artistic expression prevalent especially in the 17th century that is marked generally by use of complex forms, bold ornamentation, and the juxtaposition of contrasting elements often conveying a sense of drama, movement, and tension. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a style of artistic expression prevalent especially in the 17th century that is marked generally by use of complex forms, bold ornamentation, and the juxtaposition of contrasting elements often conveying a sense of drama, movement, and tension. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Baroque"?

Other words for "Baroque" include devilish, excessive, exorbitant, extravagant, extreme, fancy, immoderate and inordinate. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Baroque" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Baroque"?

There are 72 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Baroque". Common alternatives include devilish, excessive, exorbitant, extravagant, extreme, fancy, immoderate, inordinate, insane and intolerable.

What is the opposite of "Baroque"?

Antonyms of "Baroque" include middling, moderate, modest, reasonable, temperate, noncomplex, noncomplicated and plain. Near antonyms include deficient, inadequate, insufficient and minimal.

How do you use "Baroque" in a sentence?

Examples of "Baroque" in a sentence: "eventually even the movie seems bored by its baroque violence"; "a thriller with a baroque plot that is sure to baffle many readers".

Is "Baroque" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Baroque" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Baroque" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Baroque" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Baroque"?

"Baroque" is pronounced /bə-ˈrōk/ and divided into syllables as ba·roque.