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volubility

volubility

1 9.0
Talking a lot and easily with smooth confident speech
  • noun
  • /ˌvɒl.jəˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/
  • Formal
translation icon : volubilidad
  • Despite his quiet nature, he displayed an unexpected volubility when discussing his favorite books.

Examples

  • To them, she appeared a silent vessel into which all Luz's volubility could be poured, a sort of sexual complementarity.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • The public speaker captivated the audience with his remarkable volubility during the presentation.

  • For all his volubility, he told me nothing of my physical condition.

  • Moreover, as was evident from the volubility of the pastors just before the meeting began, they obviously draw strength from their association with the parent church and with their fellow ministers.

    Academic text (1999)
  • So he now hid his unsociable emotions, as he had always done, behind his wife's distracting volubility.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • A person had a character for meanness or prodigality, for taciturnity or volubility, for cautiousness or recklessness.

    Academic text (1997)
  • He stops abruptly and drains his glass, setting it back on the bar with a clink and shaking his head, aware suddenly of his own volubility.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Curiously, at a stage of their history which has been characterized as "the twilight of ethnicity," the Italian Americans have demonstrated a greater volubility, creativity, and effectiveness in defining their position in the larger society than ever before.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Her volubility made her an excellent candidate for the role of spokesperson at the event.

Synonyms

eloquence
vsvolubility
20 6.1

The skill of speaking clearly and strongly to persuade people

emphasizes smooth ease without aiming to persuade or impress
articulation
vsvolubility
9 4.6

To express thoughts or feelings clearly in words

is the general capacity to do this rather than a single action
fluency
vsvolubility
8 3.0

A person's ability to speak or write a language easily and smoothly

is described as a general quality rather than an acquired ability
articulateness
vsvolubility
1 6.7

The ability to speak or write clearly and well

focuses on ease and smoothness of expression rather than clarity alone
expressivity
vsvolubility
1 6.9

How clearly and strongly someone shows thoughts or feelings

stresses smooth fluent delivery rather than emotional tone
loquacity
vsvolubility
  • Formal
1 9.9

The habit of talking a lot

is about smooth ease in speaking rather than sheer amount of words
oracy
vsvolubility
  • UK
7.8

The ability to speak clearly and confidently so others understand you

includes both speech and writing rather than only spoken use
articulacy
vsvolubility
7.5

The ability to speak ideas clearly when talking to others

applies to both speech and writing rather than only spoken situations
communicativeness
vsvolubility
5.5

A willingness and ability to talk and share ideas with other people

focuses on smooth fluent skill rather than willingness to interact

Antonyms

10 7.8

A feeling of not wanting to speak or share thoughts

A tendency to be quiet and avoid talking

How Fluent

volubility
  • Formal
1 9.0
reticence
10 7.8
inarticulacy
1 8.7

Surface Forms

volubility singular
volubilities plural

Morphology

volubility = voluble (transparent) = voluble + ity

Formed by adding the productive noun-forming suffix '-ity' to the adjective 'voluble', yielding 'the quality of being voluble'.

Etymology

Volubility comes from the Latin word volvere, which means 'to roll', and you can see the same root in English words like revolve and volume. Think of someone rolling their words out easily — that's why volubility means the ability to speak or write smoothly and with ease.