as in speech
the art of speaking in public eloquently and effectively
the oft-told story that he practiced elocution by learning to speak with a mouth full of pebbles
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of elocution
Elizabeth—with her precise elocution, her terrifying and obvious sincerity—sounded like a woman on the brink of a great cosmic battle.
—
Emily Harnett, Harper's Magazine, 26 Apr. 2024
Rosetta was unusually anxious about public speaking, so she was given elocution lessons.
—Anita Gates, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2023
Would elocution stand a chance if it were formally reintroduced into the school curriculum today?
—Robert Klose, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 July 2023
She quickly to turning to the theater, aided by elocution lessons, and found her calling.
—Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for elocution
Emily Harnett, Harper's Magazine, 26 Apr. 2024
Rosetta was unusually anxious about public speaking, so she was given elocution lessons.
—Anita Gates, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2023
Would elocution stand a chance if it were formally reintroduced into the school curriculum today?
—Robert Klose, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 July 2023
She quickly to turning to the theater, aided by elocution lessons, and found her calling.
—Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for elocution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elocution
Noun
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Over the years, JWoww has spoken up about Greyson’s autism diagnosis, sharing advice and celebrating his wins, like reading and speech improvement.—
Beth Sobol,
People.com,
7 July 2025
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Antisemitism has taken on a new mechanism: the deliberate failure to defend the rights of Jews by groups that properly speak out against attempts to suppress the rights — speech, academic freedom and assembly — of African-Americans, gays, transgender people and other minorities.—
Alan M. Dershowitz,
New York Daily News,
6 July 2025
Noun
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Hugo would likely have been repelled and fascinated by Trump’s demagoguery, his rambling mendacity, his grammatically illogical but easy-to-follow oratory.—
Graham Robb,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2025
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Her brand at the time was something like the Obama of the antipodes: a liberal media darling, icon of the global anti-Trump resistance, transitioning smoothly from lofty oratory to easygoing relatability.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
Noun
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Concerns over antisemitic rhetoric and vandalism didn’t even tighten the race.—
Sara Forman,
New York Daily News,
8 July 2025
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Trump also targeted Canada in his rhetoric, suggesting the country could become the 51st state in the U.S.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
8 July 2025
Noun
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Key educational components like public speaking and presenting, as well as activities fostering social engagement, can uplift students at kindergarten age and prepare them for life beyond the classroom.—
Andrea Vargas,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
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The Leo full moon on the 12th encourages you to use your voice more boldly, whether that’s through writing, teaching, public speaking, or social media.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Elocution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elocution. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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