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glib

[glib]
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adjective, glib·ber, glib·best.
  1. readily fluent, often thoughtlessly, superficially, or insincerely so: a glib talker; glib answers.
  2. easy or unconstrained, as actions or manners.
  3. Archaic. agile; spry.
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Origin of glib

1585–95; compare obsolete glibbery slippery (cognate with Dutch glibberig)
Related formsglib·ly, adverbglib·ness, nounun·glib, adjectiveun·glib·ly, adverb

Synonyms

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1. talkative, loquacious; facile, smooth. See fluent.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

frauddeceptionduplicitymockerybigotryinsinceritydeceitdishonestygrandiloquencewordinessverbosenessprolixityverbositylogorrhealoquaciousnesstalkativenessvolubilityglibnessfalsitycant

Examples from the Web for glibness

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • At any rate, he proceeded with an unusual fluency and glibness.

    Angel Island

    Inez Haynes Gillmore

  • "I only said that the once," said Wully, shocked at her glibness in the uptake.

    Bud

    Neil Munro

  • But this skill of tongue, this glibness of speech is hardly an affair of intellect at all.

    The Duke's Children

    Anthony Trollope

  • Then the glibness and merit of some of their answers surprised and amused him.

    Peg Woffington

    Charles Reade

  • "Miss Baker is engaged," she announced, with the glibness of previous preparation.

    Ben Blair

    Will Lillibridge

British Dictionary definitions for glibness

glib

adjective glibber or glibbest
  1. fluent and easy, often in an insincere or deceptive way
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Derived Formsglibly, adverbglibness, noun

Word Origin

C16: probably from Middle Low German glibberich slippery
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for glibness

glib

adj.

1590s, "smooth and slippery," possibly a shortening of obsolete glibbery "slippery," which is perhaps from Low German glibberig "smooth, slippery," from Middle Low German glibberich, from or related to glibber "jelly." Of words, speakers, etc., from c.1600. Related: Glibly; glibness.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper