eloquent

[ el-uh-kwuhnt ]

adjective

1. having or exercising the power of fluent, forceful, and appropriate speech:

   an eloquent orator.

2. characterized by forceful and appropriate expression:

   an eloquent speech.

3. movingly expressive:

   looks eloquent of disgust.

eloquent

/ ˈɛləkwənt /

adjective

1. (of speech, writing, etc) characterized by fluency and persuasiveness
2. visibly or vividly expressive, as of an emotion

   an eloquent yawn

Derived Forms

• ˈeloquently, adverb

Other Words From

• elo·quent·ly adverb
• elo·quent·ness noun
• non·elo·quent adjective
• non·elo·quent·ly adverb
• quasi-elo·quent adjective
• quasi-elo·quent·ly adverb
• super·elo·quent adjective
• super·elo·quent·ly adverb
• un·elo·quent adjective
• un·elo·quent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of eloquent¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin ēloquent-, stem of ēloquēns “speaking out,” present participle of ēloquī “to speak out,” from ē- e- ¹ + loquī “to speak”

Word History and Origins

Origin of eloquent¹

C14: from Latin ēloquēns, from ēloquī to speak out, from loquī to speak

Synonym Study

Eloquent, fluent, articulate, expressive are adjectives that characterize speech or speakers notable for their effectiveness. Eloquent suggests clarity and power: an eloquent plea for disarmament. Fluent, with a root sense of flowing, refers to easy, smooth, facile speech: fluent in three languages. Articulate characterizes a clear and effective speaker or speech: an articulate spokesman for tax reform. Expressive focuses on rendering intelligible or meaningful the ideas or feelings of a speaker or writer and implies an especially effective, vivid use of language: a deeply moving, powerfully expressive evocation of a city childhood. fluent.

Example Sentences

Their task at the start was to “give certain rules to our language, to render it pure and eloquent” – to which end they set about writing their first dictionary.

From BBC

Well, the intra-Democratic meltdown over Kamala Harris’ loss was not put to rest by my eloquent piece from last week, it turns out.

From Slate

No matter how much proof the media musters about Donald Trump’s lies, crimes, and derelictions, no matter how eloquent the cases pundits make about his manifest unfitness for office, no matter how hard journalists try to document their processes and present their work in compelling ways, half the country continues to demean and disregard their efforts while choosing instead to trust real-estate hucksters, YouTube supplement salesmen, disheveled podcast conspiracists, and countless other unreliable sources that barely even bother to appear credible.

From Slate

She is not an eloquent orator - and does not seem to have much of a plan to improve our country.

From BBC

One video image of a highway at night was more eloquent than anything in the lead-up to Johnny’s Greyhound getaway.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• affecting
• ardent
• articulate
• expressive
• fervent
• forceful
• impassioned
• moving
• outspoken
• passionate
• persuasive
• poignant
• powerful
• revealing
• stirring
• touching
• vivid
• vocal