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Glite Dictionary
🗣️ To state clearly 👄 To pronounce clearly
to enunciate

to enunciate

6 5.8
To pronounce words clearly so people understand
  • verb
  • /ɪˈnʌnʃiˌeɪt/
translation icon : articular
  • The second woman asked Lily a question, enunciating each word very slowly.
  • enunciate clearly
  • enunciate the words

But I'm a big white Canadian who enunciates most words.

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Examples

  • Could you enunciate that last word a little bit?

    The Angry Birds Movie (2016)

  • To speak properly it is necessary to enunciate every syllable.

    Bugsy (1991)

  • His mouth was stiff and his words were difficult to enunciate.

    Academic text (2007)

  • "A bad place," said Robbie, enunciating clearly, as if his mother were deaf.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Though our Italian was meager, we had no trouble understanding her carefully enunciated speech.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Are you telling me the cat won't respond unless her name is... properly enunciated?

    Love Stinks (1999)

  • Martin dressed nicely, was alert in class, and always addressed him respectfully, carefully enunciating his full last name.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Please enunciate your words so everyone can understand you.

  • In public speaking, it is essential to enunciate each word clearly for the audience.

  • The teacher emphasized the need to enunciate during the pronunciation exercise.

Synonyms

to say
vsto enunciate
∞ 1.0

Speak words to show information or feelings

focuses on producing clear and distinct word sounds rather than general expression
to pronounce
vsto enunciate
204 1.0

To say a word or sound in a certain way

stresses clear, distinct word sounds rather than any particular manner of production
to articulate
vsto enunciate
45 4.4

To pronounce words clearly so others understand

focuses on producing clear and distinct word sounds rather than broader expression
to speak clearly
vsto enunciate
7 1.0

Say words so other people can easily understand you

emphasizes distinct and audible word sounds rather than general understandability
to sound out
vsto enunciate
1 2.8

Say the letters and syllables of a word to help you read and spell it

aims for clear, distinct whole word delivery rather than stepwise decoding
to pronounce correctly
vsto enunciate
1 2.8

Say words in the correct way so people understand you

focuses on clear and distinct sounds rather than strict correctness
to enounce
vsto enunciate
9.9

To pronounce words or syllables clearly

prioritizes clear and distinct word sounds rather than specific manner of uttering

Antonyms

to mumble
103 4.9

To speak in a low, unclear voice that is hard to understand

to slur
3 6.3

To speak so the words run together and are hard to understand

How Clear

to articulate
45 4.4
to enunciate
6 5.8
to pronounce
204 1.0
to speak
∞ 1.0
to mumble
103 4.9

Surface Forms

enunciate infinitive
enunciated past
enunciated past participle
enunciating present participle
enunciates third person singular

Morphology

enunciate = enunci + ate

Although the suffix '-ate' is productive, the root 'enunci-' is a Latin combining form not recognizable as an independent English word, so the pronunciation-related sense is not transparently derivable from the parts for typical learners.

Etymology

Enunciate comes from the Latin enuntiare, which has the idea of a 'message' and is the same root as pronounce. So, to enunciate words is to say them clearly and exactly, like a messenger speaking so everyone can understand.