eloquent
Americanadjective
-
having or exercising the power of fluent, forceful, and appropriate speech.
an eloquent orator.
-
characterized by forceful and appropriate expression.
an eloquent speech.
-
movingly expressive.
looks eloquent of disgust.
adjective
-
(of speech, writing, etc) characterized by fluency and persuasiveness
-
visibly or vividly expressive, as of an emotion
an eloquent yawn
Synonym Usage
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. See also fluent.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of eloquent
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”
Explanation
When you're eloquent, you have a way with words. An eloquent speaker expresses herself clearly and powerfully. Even though eloquent usually describes oral speech, it can also be used to describe powerful writing. Being eloquent is about using words well. All the great writers from English class — such as Shakespeare, Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, and Virginia Woolf — were eloquent. A great orator or speaker like Martin Luther King, Jr. was eloquent. When something is beautifully, gorgeously, perfectly said (or written), it's eloquent. Being eloquent requires your words to be smooth, clear, powerful, and interesting. To write or speak in an eloquent way takes a lot of work.
Vocabulary lists containing eloquent
Advanced English Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I've Been to the Mountaintop" (1968)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Grade 9, List 6
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Eloquent voices warned the Greeks not to follow this path, to no avail.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026
Eloquent oratory is a skill Petro often deploys.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 19, 2023
Eloquent and self-aggrandizing, Falstaff proudly identifies with his stature.
From New York Times • Mar. 13, 2023
One picture spelled out the words that for them embodied the Queen in an acrostic: "Quintessential, Unwavering, Eloquent, Elegant, Noble."
From BBC • Sep. 9, 2022
Eloquent though his speech was in defence of these resolutions, he showed that he did not yet see the line along which salvation was to come.
From The Tribune of Nova Scotia A Chronicle of Joseph Howe by Grant, W. L. (William Lawson)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
