eloquent
gb/ˈɛləkwənt/ us/ˈɛləkwənt/
C1
English
~ 5100
Senses
0 senses
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
fluent and persuasive in speech
Able to speak or write in a clear, beautiful way that moves or convinces people.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is eloquent about [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "eloquent" with "talkative" or "chatty". "Eloquent" is about the quality and power of what someone says, not how much they talk. Another common mistake is mixing it up with "elegant"; "elegant" usually describes style, clothes, or design, while "eloquent" describes speech, writing, or sometimes gestures.
Synonyms
articulate (Focuses on clear and effective expression, slightly less formal than "eloquent" and not always emotionally moving.)
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persuasive (Emphasizes the ability to convince others, without necessarily suggesting beauty or fluency of language.)
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expressive (Highlights showing feelings or ideas clearly; can apply to faces or art, not just speech or writing.)
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fluent (Stresses smooth and easy speech, especially in a language, but not always powerful or moving.)
Antonyms
inarticulate (Describes someone who cannot express ideas or feelings clearly in speech.)
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tongue-tied (Informal; describes someone who cannot speak easily, often from nervousness.)
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awkward (Describes speech that is clumsy or not smooth, the opposite of polished, eloquent language.)
Collocations
eloquent speaker
|eloquent speech
|eloquent writer
|highly eloquent
|eloquent on the subject of
|eloquent advocate
Themes
communication
|personality
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The lawyer gave an eloquent closing argument that moved several jurors to tears.
- In an eloquent speech, the president called for unity and understanding.
- She is an eloquent advocate for human rights and social justice.
- His letter to the editor was so eloquent that it was shared widely online.
- Despite being nervous, he delivered an eloquent toast at the wedding.
Learner examples
- The teacher was very eloquent and easy to follow.
- She gave an eloquent speech about her life.
- He is not loud, but he is very eloquent.
- Many people cried after her eloquent words.
- The student wrote an eloquent essay about climate change.
adjective
formal
C1
property
2
clearly expressive without words
Describing a look, silence, fact, or thing that shows a strong feeling or idea without words.
Usage pattern:
[something] is eloquent of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may think "eloquent" can only describe people or spoken words. In this sense, it often describes silence, looks, statistics, objects, or events that clearly show a feeling or fact without words. It is also easy to confuse this with "emotional"; however, "eloquent" here means clear and powerful in what it communicates, not just full of feeling.
Synonyms
telling (Suggests that something reveals a lot of important information, often indirectly.)
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expressive (Describes looks, gestures, or things that show feelings clearly, but not always with the strong impact implied by "eloquent".)
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revealing (Focuses on giving away or showing information, sometimes unintentionally.)
Antonyms
meaningless (Describes something that does not carry any clear message or importance.)
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mute (Metaphorically describes something that fails to communicate or express anything.)
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uninformative (Describes something that gives little or no useful information, the opposite of being strongly expressive.)
Collocations
eloquent silence
|eloquent testimony
|eloquent reminder
|eloquent example
|statistics are eloquent
|eloquent of the fact that
Themes
communication
|emotions
|society
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The empty chair on the stage was an eloquent reminder of those who could not be there.
- Her silence after the question was eloquent, and everyone understood her answer.
- The statistics on child poverty are eloquent testimony to the need for change.
- His tired eyes were eloquent of the long hours he had worked.
- The ruined buildings stand as an eloquent example of the cost of war.
Learner examples
- Her long silence was eloquent and made him feel guilty.
- The numbers in the report are eloquent about the problem.
- His face was eloquent and showed his worry.
- The old photos are an eloquent reminder of my grandparents.
- The empty streets were eloquent of the fear in the city.
Grammar
Dictionary form
eloquent
IPA
GB/ˈɛləkwənt/
US/ˈɛləkwənt/
Syllables & stress
elo - quent (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (elo)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: eloquent
Word family
Core family
eloquence
noun B2
eloquently
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
ineloquent
adjective
ineloquently
adverb
Expressions
an eloquent reminder
1/ən ˈɛləkwənt ɹimˈaɪndɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
a powerful nonverbal reminder
Something that, without many words, makes you clearly remember an important fact or lesson.
Examples
- The abandoned houses are an eloquent reminder of the town's economic troubles.
- The small memorial by the road is an eloquent reminder of how dangerous that corner is.
- Her scar is an eloquent reminder of the accident she survived.
eloquent silence
1/ˈɛləkwənt sˈaɪləns/
fixed phrase
literary
a silence that communicates strongly
A silence that clearly shows what someone feels or thinks, even though they say nothing.
Examples
- There was an eloquent silence around the table after his joke fell flat.
- Her eloquent silence told him more than any angry words could have.
- The crowd watched in eloquent silence as the names of the victims were read out.