eloquent
Able to speak clearly and beautifully so people want to listen.
eloquent in a sentence
- The eloquent speaker held the whole hall silent, choosing every word perfectly.
- Maya's eloquent thank-you letter was so beautifully worded that Gran read it aloud twice.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to eloquent?
- Ahalting
- Bmumbling
- Carticulate
- Dunclear
Show the answer
C: articulate. The other three mean the opposite of eloquent.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to eloquent?
- Aarticulate
- Bexpressive
- Cfluent
- Dunclear
Show the answer
D: unclear. The other three mean nearly the same as eloquent.
Words that mean something similar
articulate, expressive, fluent
Words that mean the opposite
unclear, mumbling, halting
More words about speech & sound
- emphasise: To give special importance to something you say or write.
- exaggerate: To make something sound bigger, better or worse than it really is.
- exclaim: To shout out suddenly with surprise or excitement.
- explicit: Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no doubt.
- gruff: Rough and unfriendly in voice or manner.
- harmonious: Going together in a peaceful and pleasant way.
- hubbub: A loud noise made by lots of voices at once.
- hushed: Very quiet and still.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test