Superfluous wording irks classmates

“I expostulate that all governments must extemporaneously respond to a hodgepodge of threats in the international arena.”
If you’re confused, don’t worry. I am just relaying something I overheard in class.
What’s up with the big words?
I support having an extensive vocabulary and enriching a reader’s experience through word variety; however, with hundreds upon thousands of words in the English language suffering constant abuse, things seem to be getting out of hand.
What grinds my gears are students who insist on conveying nonsensical ideas in the most unnecessarily verbose manner. It’s all to create a façade of intelligence by using polysyllabic words. Such words tend to be synonymous with other more commonly known words.
Some larger words are not complete substitutes for simpler terms and carry nuanced meanings. However, the purpose of those intimidating collections of letters should be to convey a complicated idea — not to impress your classmates or professors.
Individuals who use big words tend to reflect their own insecurities. It seems many students try to hide behind words like “antidisestablishmentarianism” because they lack confidence in their own ideas. If you truly believe your point is valid, it is more effective to communicate your ideas in layman’s terms.
I am not the only one irritated by unnecessary wordage. Professors, who are obligated to accommodate various ideas and comments, may not be able to fully understand what exactly the student is trying to say. Taking into consideration professors’ long-term immersion in academia, I am sure many find it refreshing when ideas are communicated as clearly as possible without having to derail a conversation for the sake of clarification.
Professors constantly lecture about their preference of precise and clear language over flowery writing in regards to essay writing. In many cases, my professors have claimed to thoroughly enjoy reading essays they have given poor grades. The strength of your paper is in the ideas, not your use of words like “Machiavellian.”
Popular culture is also partly to blame. The media has stereotyped intelligent people as those who spew long sentences filled with complicated words. But that is not what truly qualifies someone as being smart.
Don’t convey your ideas for the sake of sounding intelligent or impressing that special someone. If you make a valid point, it is just as impressive in verbose form as it is in layman’s terms.