glib-tongued

8.6

Someone who speaks smoothly and convincingly but does not seem honest

adjective
/ɡlɪb tʌŋd/

: hablador

The glib-tongued salesman dazzled the customers with his smooth pitch, but many were left feeling uneasy.

Examples

She was glib-tongued in her responses during the interview, which made the panel question her sincerity.
His glib-tongued manner impressed some, but others suspected he was not being entirely honest.
A.Q. Khan was a glib-tongued, flamboyant individual always in search of publicity and glory.

Blog text (24)

Synonyms

eloquent

vsglib-tongued

61 6.3

To speak or write clearly so people pay attention

is fluent and persuasive but often suggests shallow insincerity

glib

vsglib-tongued

24 7.9

Being smooth and confident when talking but not honest

is fluent too but often suggests shallow or insincere intent

silver-tongued

vsglib-tongued

3 7.9

Able to speak in a way that charms and persuades people

is similar but does not imply dishonesty or shallow intent

smooth-tongued

vsglib-tongued

8.3

Someone who persuades people using clever, dishonest talk

is fluent and persuasive but more openly shallow or insincere

smooth-spoken

vsglib-tongued

6.8

A person who speaks in a calm, charming way to persuade others

is like that but lacks the usual hint of insincerity

Antonyms

genuine

156 3.2

Truly felt and not fake, for example a smile or apology

How Insincere

deceptive

62 5.3

glib-tongued

8.6

glib

24 7.9

sincere

239 2.5

Surface Forms

glib-tongued positive

glib-tongueder comparative

glib-tonguedest superlative

Morphology

glib-tongued = glib + tongue (transparent) = glib + tongue + ed

Formed by combining 'glib' + 'tongue' with the adjectival '-ed' on 'tongue'; the meaning 'having a glib way of speaking' is directly derivable from the parts.

Etymology

The word glib-tongued comes from glib, which once meant 'slippery' or 'smooth', and tongued, from 'tongue' meaning 'to speak'. So a glib-tongued person has a 'smooth' or 'slippery' way of speaking that sounds charming but is often not sincere.