WordVale

belabor

/bɪˈleɪbər/  ·  say it: bih·LAY·ber

to argue a point at excessive length

In Debate & Persuasion

In more detail

1. (verb) to spend too much time and effort discussing or explaining something that is already clear or understood

2. (verb) to attack or criticize someone persistently and harshly

Examples

• 1. The speaker belabored the point about climate change even though everyone already understood it.
• 2. The opposition candidate spent the entire debate belaboring the mayor's past mistakes.

Nearby in Debate & Persuasion

equivocate, prevaricate, digress, reiterate, emphasize, understate