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Is there a word or term commonly used to describe the act of stating the obvious (or a person who continually does so)? Example sentences are given for a suitable noun / NP, or verb ... but other relevant suggestions are welcome.

He constantly states the obvious, he is such a ____.

She is always ___ing.

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    I was going to say 'duh' ...
    – Robusto
    Commented Feb 2, 2011 at 19:40
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    I am familiar with many of the responses to someone stating the obvious, most of which are not meant to be kind: "Duh," "No duh," "No shit," "No shit, Sherlock," and others.
    – JYelton
    Commented Feb 2, 2011 at 20:01
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    Sorry to state the obvious, but for the verb form, what is wrong with “She is always stating the obvious?” :-P
    – PLL
    Commented Feb 2, 2011 at 20:51
  • @PLL I was hoping for something that might be more concise, yet at the same time be somewhat derogatory. I thought there was such a term, but it's becoming apparent there is not.
    – JYelton
    Commented Feb 2, 2011 at 21:12
  • pedant? memegenerator.net/img/instances/55598085.jpg
    – John Henckel
    Commented Feb 11, 2021 at 15:33

7 Answers 7

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As a somewhat insulting noun, "Captain obvious" can be used for someone who is always stating the obvious.

Prolixity can be used to describe someone who says too much. This may be applicable in some cases.

In addition, Logorrhoea is a term with a similar meaning to prolixity although again the primary meaning is simply too much vs. stating the obvious.

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    Wow... prolixity. You'll get quizzical looks if you use words like that with people. I'd probably use verbose in conversation.
    – OneProton
    Commented Feb 2, 2011 at 21:08
  • @Atømix: I agree that prolixity is probably not in most people's vocabulary (it certainly wasn't in mine until this answer!). Verbosity to me is not the same as stating the obvious, I generally take it to mean "sparing no detail" which may be crucial, for example, in a crime investigation.
    – JYelton
    Commented Feb 3, 2011 at 16:48
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    Both Verbosity and Logorrhoea are about the sheer number of words being used. They don't need to be obvious words.
    – slim
    Commented Jan 3, 2012 at 13:40
  • I would have to say that calling someone "Captain Obvious" is pretty offensive. There is a strong implication that they are too stupid to realise that what they are saying is obvious to others.
    – RoG
    Commented Feb 1, 2018 at 11:04
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I don't believe there's a single word that has the exact meaning you want, but the phrase "belaboring the obvious" is a classic idiom for your second case.

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    +1 for a great suggestion, I wanted to avoid the description "stating the obvious" because it lacks a certain negative connotation that I was needing. "Belaboring" conveys more acutely the sense I was wanting.
    – JYelton
    Commented Feb 3, 2011 at 16:50
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Stating the obvious is perhaps best stated as "self-evident." For example, "A street is better than a little trail to connect those two large neighborhoods." "That's self-evident."

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Redundant is the word that you're looking for, according to Merriam-Webster.
Redundant means

  • exceeding what is necessary or normal
  • superfluous

So you can say:

Please could you be less redundant and get straight to the point?

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    I find redundant implies duplication, not just over-abundance or pletoric (?)
    – Richard Haven
    Commented Oct 31, 2012 at 17:25
  • Not really. The word redundant implies nothing about how obvious (or not) the information is.
    – RoG
    Commented Feb 1, 2018 at 11:05
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I think a bromide would be apt for your query.

Instead of offering an umbrella to her, the cheeky stranger offered the bromide: "It's raining", much to her dismay.

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I believe you're looking for belabor, which means to redundantly or excessively state the obvious.

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    Don't you mean belabor the obvious? Someone already suggested that phrase, however, so if you have nothing to add to it, there is no need for an answer.
    – Daniel
    Commented Mar 30, 2012 at 18:36
  • @Danielδ: you can belabour a point (or even labour it.)
    – Tim Lymington
    Commented May 19, 2012 at 17:18
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    Not really. The word belabor implies nothing about how obvious (or not) the information is. You could belabor a very non-obvious point.
    – RoG
    Commented Feb 1, 2018 at 11:06
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Platitude, as in "He is full of platitudes"?

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  • I think is more related to the tropes of cliché or Dutch Uncle (no offence intended); i.e. content rather than delivery.
    – Richard Haven
    Commented Oct 31, 2012 at 17:26

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