Your Smart Vocabulary Companion

Etymology

From Latin "eloquens," present participle of "eloqui" meaning "to speak out," from "e-" (out) + "loqui" (to speak). The word entered English through Old French in the 14th century.

Usage Examples

1. "Her eloquent speech moved the audience to tears and inspired immediate action."

2. "Sometimes silence can be more eloquent than words."

3. "The painting was an eloquent testimony to the artist's grief and resilience."

Synonyms

• Articulate
• Expressive
• Fluent
• Persuasive
• Silver-tongued

Antonyms

• Inarticulate
• Halting
• Tongue-tied
• Awkward

Fun Facts

• Great orators throughout history - from Cicero to Martin Luther King Jr. - are remembered for their eloquent speeches.
• The ancient Greeks and Romans highly valued eloquence and created entire schools of rhetoric to teach it.
• Body language can be eloquent too - expressing emotions and thoughts without words.

Word Family

• Eloquence (noun): Fluent and persuasive speaking or writing
• Eloquently (adverb): In an eloquent manner