Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

glib

adjective \ ˈglib \
|Updated on: 14 Aug 2018

Definition of glib

glibber; glibbest
1 a : marked by ease and informality : nonchalant
b : showing little forethought or preparation : offhand
  • glib answers
c : lacking depth and substance : superficial
  • glib solutions to knotty problems
2 archaic : smooth, slippery
3 : marked by ease and fluency in speaking or writing often to the point of being insincere or deceitful
  • a glib politician
—

glibly

adverb
—

glibness

noun

See glib defined for English-language learners

See glib defined for kids

Examples of glib in a Sentence

  1. Or they could have saddled us with "The Stranger," which had the mitigating charm of being glib and pretentious and would thus have kept the kids who were obviously going to end up at Bard happy. —Joe Queenan,  New York Times Book Review,  3 June 2007
  2. The problem was that the candidate anticipated all the questions, knew all the answers and tended to pop out the reply the moment the question was asked; it made him seem like a smart aleck, too glib. —William Safire,  New York Times Magazine,  16 June 1991
  3. Some of the glibbest persons in the nation are oddly tongue-tied when the Bible is brought up. —Garry Wills,  Under God,  1990
  4. I expected a glib ladies' man, which he's not. He is an introspective man with deep emotions. —Loni Anderson,  quoted in People Weekly,  6 Nov. 1989

  5. Politicians need to do more than provide glib answers to difficult questions.

  6. the actor's glib portrayal of a drug addict

Recent Examples of glib from the Web

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

Origin and Etymology of glib

probably modification of Low German glibberig slippery

GLIB Defined for English Language Learners

glib

adjective

Definition of glib for English Language Learners

  • : said or done too easily or carelessly : showing little preparation or thought

  • : speaking in a smooth, easy way that is not sincere

GLIB Defined for Kids

glib

adjective \ ˈglib \

Definition of glib for Students

glibber; glibbest
: speaking or spoken carelessly and often insincerely
  • a glib answer
—

glibly

adverb

Learn More about glib

  1. See words that rhyme with glib Spanish Central: Translation of glib Nglish: Translation of glib for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of glib for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up glib? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

imperturbable

play

very hard to disturb or upset

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. hogwash 'nonsense, balderdash'

  2. probity 'adherence to the highest principles and ideals'

  3. sequacious 'intellectually servile'

  4. inadmissible 'not capable of being allowed'

  5. oligarch, pejorative 'a member a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

glib

Test Your Vocabulary

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

  • alphabet-pasta-spelling-help
  • Which is the correct spelling?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Add Diction

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games