eloquent

adjective

el·o·quent | \ ˈe-lə-kwənt

Definition of eloquent

1 : marked by forceful and fluent expression an eloquent preacher

2 : vividly or movingly expressive or revealing an eloquent monument

Other Words from eloquent Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about eloquent

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Did You Know?

Since "eloquent" can have to do with speaking, it makes sense that it comes from the Latin verb loqui, which means "to speak." "Loqui" is the parent of many "talkative" offspring in English. "Loquacious," which means "given to fluent or excessive talk," also arose from "loqui." Another "loqui" relative is "circumlocution," a word that means someone is talking around a subject to avoid making a direct statement (circum- means "around"). And a "ventriloquist" is someone who makes his or her voice sound like it’s coming from another source.

Examples of eloquent in a Sentence

He [H. L. Mencken] relished the vagaries of vernacular speech and paid eloquent homage to them in The American Language. — Jackson Lears, New Republic, 27 Jan. 2003 Samuel Johnson is palmed off in classrooms as a harmless drudge of a lexicographer, yet open the Dictionary anywhere and find precision and eloquent plainness. — Guy Davenport, The Geography of the Imagination, (1954) 1981 There was a burst of applause, and a deep silence which was even more eloquent than the applause. — Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge, 1886 His success serves as an eloquent reminder of the value of hard work. an eloquent writer and speaker, Elizabeth Cady Stanton was one of the founders of the women's rights movement

Recent Examples on the Web

Booed by fans of one of the most eloquent sporting events, McEnroe's bad-boy persona was epitomized with this memorable tantrum in the first round vs. Tom Gullikson. — Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, "Ranking the 10 most iconic Wimbledon moments of the Open era," 1 July 2019 The recent expressions of the outgoing governor on how to transition after his embarrassing departure are more than eloquent. — Jennifer A. Marcial Ocasio, orlandosentinel.com, "Pedro Pierluisi sworn in as governor of Puerto Rico after Ricardo Rosselló steps down," 2 Aug. 2019 In later years, there would be bigger demonstrations, more eloquent speakers, and more professional slogans. — Ian Kershaw, The New York Review of Books, "Anne Applebaum," 6 June 2019 Perhaps the most eloquent examples are a roomful of coiled sculptures made from women’s mesh tights stuffed with kapok. — Los Angeles Times, "Review: Sarah Lucas show at the Hammer Museum is naked but definitely not afraid," 17 July 2019 Such eloquent, chilling precision, along with a vein of brutal humor, helped make this Algren’s most successful novel. — Algis Valiunas, National Review, "Nelson Algren: Chicago’s Bard of the Downtrodden," 11 July 2019 But his Letters, like Nathaniela Ames’s apostrophe to generations unborn, is eloquent testimony to the emergence of an American ethos. — Thomas Wendel, National Review, "The Beginning of a Nation," 4 July 2019 So long, Bob Ley — the eloquent ESPN pioneer who earlier this week announced his retirement after 40 years at the four-letter network. — Mike Bianchi, orlandosentinel.com, "Magic absolutely, positively, definitely, doubtlessly must bring back Vooch! | Commentary," 28 June 2019 Oddly elegant and brusquely eloquent, the work evokes perpetual cycles of construction and destruction. — Christopher Knight, latimes.com, "Review: In ‘COLA 2019,’ the city of L.A. gives its artists a place to sound off," 18 June 2019

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

History and Etymology for eloquent

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin ēloquent-, ēloquens "capable of speech, expressing oneself fluently," from present participle of ēloquī "to utter, put into words," from ē- e- entry 1 + loquī "to talk, speak," probably going back to dialectal Indo-European *tlok^w- "talk," whence also Old Irish ad-tluichethar "(s/he) gives thanks" (originally with buide "thanks" as object, as in atluchedar buidi do Día "he thanks God"), do-tluichethar "(s/he) desires, beseeches, asks," Old Church Slavic tlŭk "interpreter" (from *tl̥k^w-o-)