1. excessive concern with words rather than with the realities they represent
2. a verbal expression or phrase

Examples

• The politician’s speech was criticized as mere verbalism without concrete policy proposals.
• His writing suffered from verbalism, focusing on fancy words rather than clear ideas.
• The professor warned against verbalism in academic writing.
• She dismissed his argument as empty verbalism.
• The contract was full of legal verbalisms that obscured its meaning.
• Critics accused the movement of engaging in verbalism rather than action.