voluble

[ vol-yuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. characterized by a ready and continuous flow of words; fluent; glib; talkative:

   a voluble spokesman for the cause.

   Synonyms: loquacious, garrulous, articulate

   Antonyms: taciturn

voluble

/ ˈvɒljʊbəl /

adjective

1. talking easily, readily, and at length; fluent
2. archaic.
   easily turning or rotating, as on an axis
3. rare.
   (of a plant) twining or twisting

Derived Forms

• ˈvolubly, adverb
• ˌvoluˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• vol·u·bil·i·ty [vol-y, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], vol·u·ble·ness noun
• vol·u·bly adverb
• non·vol·u·ble adjective
• non·vol·u·bly adverb
• un·vol·u·ble adjective
• un·vol·u·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of voluble¹

First recorded in 1565–75; from Latin volūbilis “that turns easily, flowing,” equivalent to volū-, base of volvere “to turn” + -bilis -ble; revolve ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of voluble¹

C16: from Latin volūbilis turning readily, fluent, from volvere to turn

Synonym Study

See fluent.

Example Sentences

A president has wide authority to impose tariffs, and Trump has been so voluble about his love for the trade barriers that they appear inevitable.

From Los Angeles Times

“Madden made for an expansive, excessive, endlessly voluble analyst, and Summerall provided his perfect play-by-play foil,” Times reporter Scott Collins wrote in an appreciation after Summerall’s death in 2013.

From Los Angeles Times

As Rogovoy astutely writes, Harrison “was one of four, and if sometimes it was hard to get a word in edgewise when your bandmates were the wickedly outrageous John Lennon, the voluble Paul McCartney, and the affable Ringo Starr, Harrison made every word count. His wit was as quick and biting as Lennon's. He did not suffer fools gladly—by the evidence of his songs, he despised them.”

From Salon

Once he was in the courtroom, however, Trump was considerably less voluble, whispering to his lawyers, staring ahead and generally seeming unhappy to be there.

From New York Times

Their members were a diverse collective that included Rumi, a voluble drama student from Los Angeles.

From New York Times

Related Words

• chatty
• loquacious