loquacious

1 of 2

adjective

lo·​qua·​cious lō-ˈkwā-shəs 

1

: given to fluent or excessive talk : garrulous

… not often the most loquacious man when it comes to talking to the media …

—Bill Reiter

The moderators have largely held their ground, … cutting off loquacious candidates.

—Eliza Collins

2

: full of excessive talk : wordy

loquacious dialogue

… a lengthy, loquacious collection of songs brimming with literary references.

—Ella Feldman

loquaciously adverb

loquaciousness noun

loquaciousness

2 of 2

noun

lo·​qua·​cious·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being loquacious : talkativeness

a loquaciousness at times rising to eloquence

—Walter Cerf

Did you know?

Speaking About the Meaning of Loquacious

Loquacious undeniably has a certain poetic ring. It’s been a favorite of the writerly sort since it made its first appearance in English in the 17th century and, with poetic license, writers stretched its meaning beyond “talkative,” and especially “excessively talkative,” to describe such things as the chattering of birds and the babbling of brooks. The ultimate source of all this chattiness is loquī, a Latin verb meaning “to talk, speak.” Other words descended from loquī include colloquial, eloquent, soliloquy, and ventriloquism.

Synonyms of loquacious

Adjective

• talkative

Choose the Right Synonym for loquacious

talkative, loquacious, garrulous, voluble mean given to talk or talking.

talkative may imply a readiness to engage in talk or a disposition to enjoy conversation.

a talkative neighbor

loquacious suggests the power of expressing oneself articulately, fluently, or glibly.

a loquacious spokesperson

garrulous implies prosy, rambling, or tedious loquacity.

garrulous traveling companions

voluble suggests a free, easy, and unending loquacity.

a voluble raconteur

Examples of loquacious in a Sentence

Adjective

… long-cultivated dislikes and resentments, combined with a general expectation of coming apocalypse. He talked about these topics in a manner that managed to be tight-lipped and loquacious at the same time. —Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 22 & 29 Dec. 2003

… the flaw of the genre is not in betraying the loquacious John Williams and the chatty Father Foucquet, but in failing to schedule an interview with the reticent Eunice Williams and the tongue-tied John Hu. —Jill Lepore, Journal of American History, June 2001

With a wonderful memory for detail, this talkative woman—who my father said never forgets anything—became truly loquacious. —Joseph A. Amato, Dust, 2000

a loquacious and glib politician

the loquacious host of a radio talk show

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Turner’s character, Declan O’Hara, is a righteous Irish journalist, also loquacious, also hot, but disgusted by ostentatious displays of wealth. —Anna Russell, New Yorker, 1 June 2026

The six-part series documented the program’s rise under Urban Meyer, while capturing the dedication and personalities of players, including the loquacious Spikes. —Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 May 2026

The most loquacious player in the New York Yankees clubhouse had nothing to say, because there really isn’t much to say so far about the most important season of his career. —Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 12 May 2026

The writer-director is generous with his time and loquacious with his words, and admits that sometimes his openness in interviews has gotten him in a little bit of trouble. —Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 11 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin loquāc-, loquāx "talkative, verbose" (from loquī "to talk, speak" + -āc-, deverbal suffix denoting habitual or successful performance) + -ious — more at eloquent, audacious

First Known Use

Adjective

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for loquacious

• arenaceous
• argillaceous
• carbonaceous
• contumacious
• coriaceous
• efficacious
• farinaceous
• foliaceous
• membranaceous
• ochraceous
• olivaceous
• ostentatious

Kids Definition

loquacious

adjective

lo·​qua·​cious lō-ˈkwā-shəs 

: very talkative

loquaciously adverb

loquaciousness noun

loquacity

-ˈkwas-ət-ē

noun