Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
smooth-tongued

smooth-tongued

8.3
Someone who persuades people using clever, dishonest talk
  • adjective
  • /smuːθ tʌŋd/
translation icon : persuasivo
  • He was known as a smooth-tongued salesman, able to charm customers into buying almost anything.

Examples

  • She was smooth-tongued, convincing everyone to back her proposal even though the facts were questionable.

  • For believe me, there is no scourge of friendships like flattery and complaisance, the characteristic vices of the light-minded and smooth-tongued, those who say what's sure to please and never what is true.

    Academic text (2015)

  • The politician's smooth-tongued speeches swayed many voters, despite lacking substantive policies.

Synonyms

smooth
vssmooth-tongued
116 4.4

A person who speaks and acts confidently and politely

focuses more on clever or insincere speech to persuade people
eloquent
vssmooth-tongued
61 6.3

To speak or write clearly so people pay attention

tends to use polish that may be clever or insincere in persuasion
glib
vssmooth-tongued
24 7.9

Being smooth and confident when talking but not honest

uses clever or insincere talk rather than honest persuasion
silver-tongued
vssmooth-tongued
3 7.9

Able to speak in a way that charms and persuades people

relies more on clever or insincere words than pure elegance
glib-tongued
vssmooth-tongued
8.6

Someone who speaks smoothly and convincingly but does not seem honest

uses clever or insincere talk specifically to persuade others
smooth-spoken
vssmooth-tongued
6.8

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

leans toward clever or insincere speech rather than plain charm

How Persuasive

smooth-tongued
8.3
persuasive
99 3.9
unconvincing
11 5.1

Surface Forms

smooth-tongued positive

Morphology

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

Formed by compounding 'smooth' + 'tongued' (tongue + -ed), and the meaning 'suave/persuasive in speech' is directly inferable from the parts.

Etymology

Smooth-tongued comes from smooth ('soft, not rough') and tongued from tongue ('speech'), so imagine words that glide like silk or butter and make people feel calm. So a smooth-tongued person is good at persuading others with clever, sometimes not honest, talk.