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eloquent

eloquent

61 6.3
To speak or write clearly so people pay attention
  • adjective
  • /ˈɛləkwənt/
translation icon : elocuente
  • The lawyer made an eloquent argument that clearly swayed the jury.
  • eloquent words
  • an eloquent statement
  • eloquent testimony

To quote from Stefan Khalini's eloquent book title.

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Examples

  • Her defense of her husband was quite eloquent.

  • I thank my right honourable friend for his always eloquent contribution to the debate.

  • And I just really want to thank you for being so open and honest and so eloquent about your experience.

  • Not everyone is as eloquent as you.

  • So the judge's very eloquent decision, I think will have some effect in other cases like that.

  • Thank you, Mr Sawyer for that eloquent introduction.

  • This courageous, eloquent and inspiring girl became their light.

  • There is good reason for our apathy," one exceptionally bright and eloquent high school senior told me.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Who would deny that these words were an eloquent articulation of frustration?

    Academic text (1993)
  • I really shocked the instructor by offering an eloquent summary of a couple of amendments to the Constitution.

    Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

lucid
vseloquent
9 4.5

Clear and easy to understand language

adds persuasive and fluent force beyond mere clarity
fluent
vseloquent
4 2.8

Expressing yourself easily and clearly in speech, writing, or performance

adds an explicit persuasive quality beyond simple ease and clarity
silver-tongued
vseloquent
3 7.9

Able to speak in a way that charms and persuades people

is similar but is neutral about charm, stressing clear persuasive expression
facile
vseloquent
1 7.8

To speak or write easily and clearly

is focused on clear, fluent persuasion rather than mere ease of expression
smooth-spoken
vseloquent
6.8

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

is about clear, effective persuasion without emphasising charm

Antonyms

Not able to speak or write clearly so others understand

How Eloquent

persuasive
99 3.9
eloquent
61 6.3
clear
1.0
hesitant
73 3.2
inarticulate
9 7.4

Surface Forms

eloquent positive

Morphology

eloquent = eloquence (opaque) = eloqu + ent

The apparent suffix '-ent' and relation to 'eloquence' reflect Latin/French borrowing; the root 'eloqu-' is not a standalone English word, so learners cannot reliably infer the adjective's meaning from English components.

Etymology

Eloquent comes from the Latin parts e- meaning 'out' and loqu- meaning 'speak', so it literally means 'speak out'. So, to be eloquent is to speak clearly and strongly so you can persuade or move other people.