glibness
/'glibnis/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A kind of fluent, easy, and often superficial or insincere manner of speaking or writing. It suggests a smoothness and readiness with words that may lack depth, thoughtfulness, or genuine feeling.
Usage
- Glibness is used to describe a quality of communication that is overly smooth and persuasive on the surface but may be shallow, deceptive, or lacking in substance. It often carries a negative connotation, implying that the speaker is not entirely trustworthy or is oversimplifying a complex issue.
Examples
Advanced Usage
- "To have a glibness about one": To possess a naturally smooth, often untrustworthy, way of speaking.
- He had a glibness about him that made him a successful lobbyist but a difficult person to trust.
Variants and Related Words
- Glib (adj): Having a ready flow of words but lacking thought or sincerity.
- He gave a glib answer to a very difficult question.
- Glib-tongued (adj): An older, less common variant meaning having a smooth, fluent, and often deceitful tongue.
Synonyms
- Facility: Effortless ability, sometimes implying superficiality.
- Volubility: The quality of talking fluently, readily, or incessantly.
- Slickness: The quality of being smooth and efficient, especially in a way that is clever but possibly dishonest.
Antonyms
- Inarticulateness: Inability to express oneself clearly or fluently.
- Hesitancy: The quality of being slow to speak or act due to uncertainty.
- Thoughtfulness: The quality of being considerate and given to careful thought.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- "Glib talk": Speech that is smooth and persuasive but insincere.
- We need real solutions, not just glib talk.
- "To be glib of tongue": To be a very smooth, fluent speaker (often with a negative implication).
- The witness was glib of tongue, but the evidence contradicted his story.
Noun
- a kind of fluent easy superficiality
- the glibness of a high-pressure salesman