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way with words

way with words

13 5.0
Skill at speaking or writing in a pleasant, convincing way
  • noun
translation icon : elocuencia
  • You have an amazing way with words, along with your magnificent eye for loveliness!

And you know, he's just got this way with words and with seeing the theme in the story.

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Examples

Synonyms

eloquence
vsway with words
20 6.1

The skill of speaking clearly and strongly to persuade people

is similarly effective but often warmer and less strictly forceful
silver tongue
vsway with words
  • Informal
3 7.4

A skill at speaking in a way that convinces people

is effective and pleasant but less focused on flashy persuasion
persuasiveness
vsway with words
1 5.2

Ability to make someone believe or do something

adds pleasant, fluent presentation to pure convincing power
cogency
vsway with words
  • Formal
1 7.2

A clear, logical, and convincing quality that makes people accept an idea

relies more on pleasant, effective wording than strict logical force
articulateness
vsway with words
1 6.7

The ability to speak or write clearly and well

focuses more on pleasant persuasion rather than only clear expression
expressivity
vsway with words
1 6.9

How clearly and strongly someone shows thoughts or feelings

leans more toward persuasive, pleasant expression than emotional display
gift of the gab
vsway with words
  • Informal
7.3

The ability to speak easily and confidently to persuade people

is more polished and pleasant rather than just confident charm
convincingness
vsway with words
7.1

The ability to make someone believe something is true

combines convincing content with pleasant delivery, not only argument strength

Antonyms

Not able to produce the result you want

Not able to say thoughts or feelings clearly when speaking

How Eloquent

eloquence
20 6.1
way with words
13 5.0
fluency
8 3.0
expression
230 3.4
inarticulacy
1 8.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

way + with + words

The phrase composes directly from 'way' (manner) + 'with' (in relation to) + 'words' (utterances), yielding the sense 'a manner of using words' — i.e. skill in expression. This compositional reading is natural and cross-linguistically plausible, so a B1 learner who knows the parts will generally infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

The idiom way with words may come from the image of a person who has a special way of using words, as if the words follow a clear path from them. That's why it means 'being able to express yourself clearly and persuasively'.