silver-tongued
/'silvə'tʌɳd/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Eloquently persuasive; speaking in a smooth, fluent, and compelling manner: Describes someone who speaks very effectively, often charmingly or convincingly, with a pleasing and articulate style.
Usage
The adjective "silver-tongued" is used to describe a person, typically emphasizing their natural or skillful ability to speak persuasively and beautifully. It often carries a positive connotation of charm and eloquence but can sometimes imply a degree of slickness or insincerity depending on the context. It is used attributively (before a noun) or predicatively (after a linking verb).
Examples
- Attributive use (before a noun):
- The silver-tongued politician won over the crowd with his promises.
- She is known as a silver-tongued negotiator who can close any deal.
- Predicative use (after a linking verb):
- The lawyer was so silver-tongued that the jury was completely swayed.
- Be careful; he can be very silver-tongued when he wants something.
Advanced Usage
- "Silver-tongued oratory": Refers to the art or practice of persuasive public speaking characterized by eloquence.
- The senator was famous for his silver-tongued oratory.
- Used to describe characters in literature, mythology, or history known for their persuasive speech.
- In the tale, the silver-tongued fox tricked the other animals.
Variants and Related Words
- Silver-tonguedness (n, rare): The quality of being silver-tongued; eloquent persuasiveness.
- Eloquent (adj): Fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing. (A core synonym, but less idiomatically vivid than "silver-tongued").
- Facile (adj, often derogatory): Ignoring the true complexities of an issue; superficial. (This can overlap when "silver-tongued" implies glibness).
- Glib (adj): Fluent but insincere and shallow. (This captures the potential negative nuance of "silver-tongued").
Synonyms
- Eloquent
- Persuasive
- Articulate
- Fluent
- Glib (when emphasizing potential insincerity)
- Smooth-talking
Antonyms
- Inarticulate
- Tongue-tied
- Faltering
- Unpersuasive
Related Idioms and Phrases
- To have a silver tongue: An idiom meaning to be eloquently persuasive. This is the phrase from which the adjective "silver-tongued" is derived.
- He could sell anything; he really has a silver tongue.
- Silver-tongued devil: A colloquial phrase, often used humorously or critically, for someone whose charming speech is used for manipulation.
- Don't listen to that silver-tongued devil; he's just after your money.
Adjective
-
expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively
-
able to dazzle with his facile tongue
-
silver speech
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