Log in or Sign up

Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. adj. Characterized by persuasive, powerful discourse: an eloquent speaker; an eloquent sermon.
  2. adj. Vividly or movingly expressive: a look eloquent with compassion. See Synonyms at expressive.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. Having the power of expressing strong emotions in vivid and appropriate speech; able to utter moving thoughts or words: as, an eloquent orator or preacher; an eloquent tongue.
  2. Expressing strong emotions with fluency and power; movingly uttered or expressed; stirring; persuasive: as, an eloquent address; eloquent history; an eloquent appeal to a jury.
  3. Manifesting or exciting emotion, feeling, or interest through any of the senses; movingly expressive or affecting: as, eloquent looks or gestures; a hush of eloquent silence.
  4. Giving strong expression or manifestation; vividly characteristic.

Wiktionary

  1. adj. fluently persuasive and articulate
  2. adj. effective in expressing meaning by speech

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. adj. Having the power of expressing strong emotions or forcible arguments in an elevated, impassioned, and effective manner.
  2. adj. Adapted to express strong emotion or to state facts arguments with fluency and power

WordNet 3.0

  1. adj. expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively

Etymologies

  1. Middle English, from Old French, from Latin ēloquēns, ēloquent-, present participle of ēloquī, to speak out; see elocution.

Examples

  • “I couldn't pronounce the word "eloquent" correctly and I was wearing a black dress I had borrowed from my sister.”

    The Huffington Post: Grace Li: A Long Overdue 'Thank You' to Youth Service America

  • “The part of the brain that this seems to have affected is what we call eloquent brain, some of the highest prices real estate in the brain.”

    CNN Transcript Dec 14, 2006

  • “The man stands up there and speaks in eloquent terms of part of the proposed legislation that is nothing more than smoke and mirrors.”

    Georgia congressman: Wilson's outburst 'carefully calculated'

  • “[…] Did you know that your President knows how to do the call to the prayer in eloquent classical Arabic?”

    mjh's blog — 2009 — September

  • “In an impressive address, His Lordship referred in eloquent terms to the life of the deceased, and various traits in his character.”

    Archive 2009-03-01

  • “There was little about his speech that could be called eloquent, despite the fact that he was well educated.”

    Simon & Schuster: The Poet Prince

  • “But consider that the Catholic Bishops, who have, from my perspective, unfortunately concentrated their energies on the issues of abortion and same-sex marriage, have also engaged in eloquent criticism of American actions in the Iraq War, and the National Conference of Catholic Bishops is among the most important groups that still support the idea of a vigorous welfare state.”

    Balkinization

  • “/… Her language I knew not, but what her eyes said will forever remain eloquent in its anguish.”

    Tagore and His India

  • “Webster expressed this concept in eloquent language:”

    The State and the Individual

  • “MR.S. B. GUNDY, President of the Board of Trade, in eloquent terms expressed the thanks of both bodies for the inspiring address, adding his voice to the speaker's in a strong plea for an united effort to solve these vital problems.”

    A Canada Forward Policy

Show 10 more examples...

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • sweetzingiber (adj): persuasive and moving; specially in speech Jul 17, 2009

‘eloquent’ has been looked up 3463 times, loved by 15 people, added to 106 lists, commented on 1 time, and has a Scrabble score of 17.