articulate

adjective

ar·tic·u·late | \ är-ˈti-kyə-lət

Definition of articulate

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : expressing oneself readily, clearly, and effectively an articulate teacher also : expressed in such a manner an articulate argument

b : divided into syllables or words meaningfully arranged : intelligible an articulate cry/utterance

c : able to speak So furious was he that he was hardly articulate …— Arthur Conan Doyle

2a : consisting of segments united by joints : jointed articulate animals

b : distinctly marked off an articulate period in history

articulate

verb

ar·tic·u·late | \ är-ˈti-kyə-ˌlāt

articulated; articulating

Definition of articulate (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to give clear and effective utterance to : to put into words articulate one's grievances He found it hard to articulate his feelings.

b : to utter distinctly articulating each note in the musical phrase

c : to give definition to (something, such as a shape or object) Eight shades of gray were chosen to articulate different spaces.— Carol Vogel

d : to give shape or expression to (something, such as a theme or concept) a drama that uses eerie props to articulate a sense of foreboding

2a : to unite by or as if by means of a joint : joint

b : to form or fit into a systematic whole articulating a program for all school grades

intransitive verb

1 : to utter clear and understandable sounds

2 : to become united or connected by or as if by a joint Most bones articulate with other bones in one or more places.

Other Words from articulate Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about articulate

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Other Words from articulate

Adjective

articulately adverb

articulateness noun

Verb

articulative \ -lə-tiv

, -ˌlā- \ adjective

articulator \ -ˌlā-tər

\ noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for articulate

Synonyms: Adjective

eloquent, fluent, silver-tongued, well-spoken

Synonyms: Verb

enunciate

Antonyms: Adjective

inarticulate, ineloquent, unvocal

Examples of articulate in a Sentence

Adjective

But he clearly adored his quick-witted and mercilessly articulate elder daughter. Contrary to feminist accounts of her patriarchal imprisonment, Emily Dickinson's objections to her father's strictures had an affectionate tone … — Christopher Benfey, New York Review of Books, 17 Jan. 2002 The engaging and articulate Bol makes campers realize how fortunate they are to have the freedoms enjoyed in America, and he emphasizes the importance of capitalizing on their opportunities to get the most out of life. — Chris Broussard, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2002 Among the most articulate critics of the tests are the boycotting students, who complain about narrowing opportunities and shrinking curricula. — Peter Schrag, Atlantic, August 2000 She's an intelligent and articulate speaker. He was very articulate about his feelings on the subject. The baby is beginning to form articulate words and phrases.

Verb

She was shocked, she told me, to see that he insisted on talking about her ideas—and about the pains and hopes that gave rise to them. "The only way to keep it is to give it away," he told her, articulating and enacting the essence of altruism. — Joshua Wolf Shenk, Atlantic, June 2009 "Fiction just doesn't interest me," one 41-year-old construction worker told CNN. "If I'm going to get a story, I'll get a movie," he said, articulating an attitude surely shared by many others in our media-saturated world. — Sara Nelson, Publishers Weekly, 27 Aug. 2007 Erudite, elderly, and introspective, one of my patients articulates clearly some of today's dilemmas facing both alcoholic patients and their physicians. — Thomas L. Delbanco, Journal of the American Medical Association, 13 Mar. 1996 He had some trouble articulating his thoughts. We disagree with the views articulated by the administration. a theory first articulated by ancient philosophers the bones that articulate with the clavicle

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

The choral singing moved from crisp and articulate to lush and lyrical where required. — Jessica Rudman, courant.com, "HSO Wraps Up Masterworks Season With Impressive Collaboratin," 9 June 2018 Modern witchiness reveals itself through fashion in clothes that articulate joy and express a healthy relationship with mortality while also being difficult for the male gaze. — Harper's BAZAAR, "The Modern Woman Is Embracing Her Inner Witch," 12 Nov. 2018 Ehnes, who also is the festival’s artistic director, introduced the premiere and two other Howard works in the first half in a manner as articulate and adroit as any television commentator. — Melinda Bargreen, The Seattle Times, "Seattle Chamber Music Society debuts an ear-boggling piece by a ‘Dark Knight’ composer," 17 July 2018 No matter the gain level, the notes remain articulate and defined, even when playing chords. — Henry Robertson, Popular Mechanics, "The New Fender Strat Still Reigns Supreme," 27 Apr. 2017 Request a meeting with administration and ask your most influential and articulate group member to serve as spokesperson. — Marie G. Mcintyre, The Seattle Times, "Struggling in the chaotic, stressful health-care workplace," 21 Nov. 2018 Dana Perino, that was such an articulate and thoughtful analysis of the deep state. — Fox News, "Kavanaugh accused: Where does the burden of proof lie?," 19 Sep. 2018 The strings were as effervescent and articulate as can be, but the stars in No. — Zachary Lewis, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Orchestra keeps the flame burning as 'The Prometheus Project' continues (review)," 14 May 2018 Vital, among the most engaging and articulate UConn basketball players, always has a lot to say, both in conversation and body language. — Mike Anthony, courant.com, "Mike Anthony: Christian Vital's Fire Can Fuel Or Burn UConn," 17 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Despite the infinite types and forms of love, musicians have found a way to articulate one of life’s most complex emotions into the most heartwarming (or heartbreaking) compositions. — Natalie Maher, Harper's BAZAAR, "15 Love Songs That Will Sweep You Off Your Feet the Moment You Press Play," 9 Jan. 2019 The dock uses an articulating hinge to prop the Surface Pro up alongside external monitors, and it can be raised just like a real Surface Studio to different angles. — Tom Warren, The Verge, "This dock turns a Surface Pro into a miniature Surface Studio," 18 July 2018 There’s no one way to articulate just how miserable the Browns have been. — Andrew Beaton, WSJ, "The Big Questions That Will Shape the NFL Draft," 26 Apr. 2018 But in this case, this is something extremely explosive because Jeff Sessions has an employee that now is apparently articulating the exact same thing that was recently outlined the anonymous op-ed just a couple of weeks ago. — Fox News, "Media's Kavanaugh spectacle," 24 Sep. 2018 Keenly articulated and brilliantly layered, the piano playing of Ms. Brackeen can feel both dazzling and intimate. — New York Times, "13 Pop, Rock and Jazz Concerts to Check Out in N.Y.C. This Weekend," 21 June 2018 The Supreme Court has never been able to articulate a test concerning the overreliance on politics in map drawing. — CNN, "The Anthony Kennedy watch returns: Will he stay or will he go?," 1 Apr. 2018 The administration has not articulated a strategy similar to China’s, and experts have warned that the tariffs — and the retaliatory tariffs China has threatened to impose — will end up hurting America’s own growth industries. — New York Times, "Trump Picks Economic Winners, Guided by Nostalgia," 18 June 2018 And by the way, the notion that nobody can be judging his own case ignores the proposition that the Supreme Court has articulated in several cases dealing with pardon. — Fox News, "Sen. Toomey on move to curb Trump's trade authority," 10 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'articulate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.